About the Madeira Lizard
The Madeiran wall lizard (Teira dugesii), being the only species in the genus Teira, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae with four recognized subspecies. The species is endemic to the Madeira Archipelago, Portugal. In the Azores, this lizard has become naturalized after an involuntary introduction by the shipping trade between the two archipelagos. The species is both endemic and common, ranging from sea coasts to altitudes of 1,850 metres (6,070 ft).
The specific name, dugesii, is in honor of French physician and naturalist Antoine Louis Dugès. The Madeiran wall lizard's natural habitats are temperate forests and shrublands, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas.
Teira dugesii dugesii (Milne-Edwards, 1829), found on the main Madeira island. Teira dugesii jogeri (Bischoff, Osenegg & Mayer, 1989); named after German herpetologist Ulrich Joger, found on Porto Santo and surrounding islands
Teira dugesii mauli (Mertens... Wikipedia →