Iberolacerta bonnali - Pyrenean Rock Lizard
Iberolacerta bonnali has not the easiest life: As a high altitude mountain lizard it inhabits areas up to 3000 meters which only allow a short activity phase in summer. However, it has to compete against Podarcis muralis, which seems to occupy the habitats with more favorable microclimate. Moreover, it faces potential predation pressure by Vipera aspis which also occurs in its biotopes.
The distribution area of the Pyrenean Rock Lizard is restricted to the central Pyrenees of Spain and France where it occurs locally, often in rather low population densities.
It co-occurs with the following species:
- Podarcis muralis frequently shows a dark vertebral line which lacks in Iberolacerta bonnali. Furthermore, it has dark-spotted, often orange throat, whereas Iberolacerta bonnali shows an unspotted whitish throat.
- Zootoca vivipara has a shorter snout and compact body; it shows a dark vertebral line which lacks in Iberolacerta bonnali. Zootoca vivipara seems to prefer well-vegetated habitats (heathland) instead of rocky areas – real syntopy might be rare.
Iberolacerta bonnali differs from other Pyrenean Rock Lizard species by the following characters: Iberolacerta aranica has three characteristic big masseteric scales. Iberolacerta aurelioi frequently has a yellow underside.
