Bedriaga's rock lizard (Archaeolacerta bedriagae) is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is monotypic within the genus Archaeolacerta. It is only found on the islands Corsica and Sardinia. The scientific name Lacerta bedriagae is also used. There are three recognized subspecies.
Both the common name and the specific name, bedriagae, are in honor of Russian-born herpetologist Jacques von Bedriaga. The natural habitats of A. bedriagae are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, rocky areas, pastureland, and rural gardens.
A. bedriagae is threatened by habitat loss. This rare species is protected by CITES. Outside the mating season, adults of A. bedriagae are brownish-grey with a dark, fine-lined net pattern on their backs. The female is browner than the male, and the male in mating season acquires a blue belly, blue loins, and blue dots on the flanks. The netlike pattern seems to turn into a pattern of white dots. Juveniles are discernible by their bright azure blue tails. The adult males can grow to a total length (including tail) of up to 30...
