Iberolacerta cyreni - Cyren's Rock Lizard
Cyren's Rock Lizard is a self-confident mountain lizard: This robust species can be seen basking on rocks during the whole afternoon. They even seem to be unimpressed by noisy groups of hikers, which may be quite numerous, as this lizard's habitats are frequented by weekend tourists from the Madrid area.
Two subspecies of this stoical lizard are currently recognized:
- The nominate subspecies occurs in the Sierra de Guadarrama north of Madrid.
- Subspecies castiliana occurs further west, in the Sierra de Gredos and some adjoining mountain ranges.
Within its habitat, the nominate subspecies has to compete with Podarcis muralis and meanwhile even with Podarcis guadarramae which increasingly occupies high altitude habitats. Climate warming may enhance this development.
Females of both Podarcis species may be distinguished by their light dorsolateral lines. Furthermore, Podarcis muralis frequently shows orange throats. Podarcis guadarramae is significantly smaller than Iberolacerta cyreni.
In the Sierra de Gredos, subspecies castiliana only has to share its habitat with some Ibex (and the mentioned hikers). This well-adapted mountain species inhabits even the rocky peak areas without any vegetation (up to approx. 2600 meters).
Iberolacerta cyreni differs from the other western Iberian Rock Lizards by not showing blue ocelli on the shoulders.
