THE NATIONAL RED LIST OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Balkan Wall Lizard

Podarcis tauricus

Macedonian

Ливадска гуштерица

Albanian

Hardhuca barit

Back to species overview
<< Previous -European Glass Lizard
Common Wall Lizard-Next >>
Not evaluated Data deficient Least concern NEAR THREATENED Vulnerable Endangered Critically endangered Extinct in the wild Extinct
NE DD LC NT VU EN CR EW EX
Taxonomy
Assessment info
Population
Habitat and Ecology
Threats
Use and Trade
Conservation Actions
Bibliography

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Podarcis tauricus

Authority

(Pallas, 1814)

Synonyms

Podarcis taurica (Pallas, 1814)

Assessment info

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria

NT, B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)

Date assessed

November 2019

Assessors

Arsovski, D.

Sterijovski, B.

Reviewers

Tomović, L.

Contributors

/

Facilitators

Hofman, M.P.G.

Justification

Field experience suggests that the Balkan Wall Lizard is not as common as the Common Wall Lizard and Erhard’s Wall Lizard in North Macedonia (extent of occurrence [EOO] = 19.206km2), and its populations seem to be smaller and, importantly, more patchily distributed (area of occupancy [AOO] = 248km2). It is likely more limited by habitat requirements, but it is also possible that many individuals are overlooked when its related species are present, making the identification difficult. The number of locations or level of fragmentation of its populations need to be studied better, nationally, but nonetheless the Balkan Wall Lizard’s AOO is quite limited, thus we can infer that national populations are at least at risk of being extremely fragmented and have perhaps suffered reductions in AOO and habitat quality. In conclusion, this lizard species is likely not yet threatened and it could possibly benefit from rescue effects from neighboring populations, but its limited national AOO does warn of susceptibility to quick change due to any increase in threats, suggesting the Near Threatened category. Globally and in Europe, this species has been assessed as Least Concern.

Population

Current population trend

Decreasing

Description

The national population size of North Macedonia has not been accurately determined. Nevertheless, where present, easy to spot and thus seemingly relatively common, but threats such as habitat degradation are likely promoting population decreases.

Habitat and Ecology

System

Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology

Usually inhabits grassy environments with low vegetation and sandy soil, and even traditionally cultivated land. Mating occurs between March and June and the oviparous female lays up to two clutches of two to 10 eggs (Böhme et al. 2009; Speybroeck et al. 2016).

Use and trade

Use and trade

There is no known use of or trade in this species.

Threats

Threats

Can be threatened by habitat loss through agricultural intensification and pollution (largely from the use of agro-chemicals; Böhme et al., 2009). It often falls victim to road mortality and wildfires in North Macedonia (personal observation).

Conservation actions

Conservation actions

It is listed on Annex II of the Bern Convention and on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive. Nationally, it is not on the list of protected wild species.

Bibliography

Bibliography

Sillero, N., Campos, J., Bonardi, A., Corti, C., Creemers, R., Crochet, P.-A., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Denoël, M., Ficetola, G.F., Gonçalves, J., Kuzmin, S., Lymberakis, P., de Pous, P., Rodríguez, A., Sindaco, R., Speybroeck, J., Toxopeus, B., Vieites, D.R., Vences, M. 2014. Updated distribution and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles of Europe. .p 1-31.

Micevski, B. 2015. Report of Biodiversity conditions of amphibians and reptiles of Ograzden Mt. 2014-2015 . Skopje . .p /.

Uzunova, D., Kitanova, D., Spirovska, M., Hristovski, S. 2015. Integral Report for the Project implementation. Final report of the project “Ecological data gap analysis and ecological sensitivity map development for the Bregalnica river watershed”. Skopje . .p /.

Sterijovski, B., Tomović, L., Ajtić, R .2014. Contribution to the knowledge of the Reptile fauna and diversity in FYR of Macedonia. .p 83–92.

Uhrin et al. 2016. Distribution updates to amphibian and reptile fauna for the Republic of Macedonia. .p 201-220.

Speybroeck, J. Beuckema, W., Bok, B., Voort, J.V.D. 2016. Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc London . .p /.

Melovski, Lj., Markoski, B., Hristovski, S., Jovanovska, D., Anastasovski, V., Klincharov, S., Velevski, M., Velkovski, N., Trendafilov, A., Matevski, V., Kostadinovski, M., Karadelev, M., Levkov, Z., Kolchakovski, D. 2013. Regional division of the Republic of Macedonia for the needs of biological databases . .p 81-111.

Böhme, W., Lymberakis, P., Ajtić, R., Tok, V., Ugurtas, I.H., Sevinç, M., Crochet, P.-A., Haxhiu, I., Krecsák, L., Sterijovski, B., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Cogalniceanu, D., Avci, A. 2009. Podarcis tauricus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. .p /.

Gasc, J-P., Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailović, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher, K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martinez-Rica, J.P., Maurin, H., Oliveira, M.L., Sofianidou, T.S., Veith, M., Zuiderwijk, A. 1997. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica & Museum Nationall d’ Histoire Naturelle (IEGB/SPN). Paris. .p 496.