Dinarolacerta mosorensis - Mosor Rock Lizard

The genus of Dinarolacerta comprises two species in the Dinaric mountain range. It is closely related to the genus Algyroides and genetic analysis indicates that it even may be invalid*.

Howbeit, the Mosor Rock Lizard is a unique Lacertid which can be found in a limited area of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia and Montenegro – in general close to coast but there are also a populations (e.g. in the Durmitor NP / Montenegro in 80 km distance from the sea). This well climbing lizard mainly lives on karstified rocks, often with hardly any vegetation. In suitable habitats it may occur in good numbers and can be quite approachable.

In general, these lizards show a rather brownish colouration but specimens from some populations – like those in Lovćen NP – show bright yellow colours.

Within its small range, it may co-occur with several other Lacertid species:

Podarcis muralis and Podarcis melisellensis have shorter snouts and different pattern.
Algyroides nigropunctatus and Dalmatolacerta oxycephala frequently show bluish but never yellow throats. Algyroides nigropunctatus also differs from Dinarolacerta mosorensis by its keeled scales on the back.
In Durmitor, Dinarolacerta mosorensis also co-occurs with Lacerta agilis but both species cannot be confused.

A closely related but geographically isolated species is Dinarolacerta montenegrina.

* PYRON et al.: A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2013 13:93.