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Common Wall Lizard
Podarcis muralis
Silhouette: Titouan Montessuit · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyLacertidae (Wall Lizards)
- GenusPodarcis
- SpeciesPodarcis muralis (Common Wall Lizard)
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
206 Verified sightings at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park From 2019 to 2026
3,905 In all 14 parks
July Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Common Wall Lizard
The common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) is a species of lizard with a large distribution in Europe and well-established introduced populations in North America, where it is also called the European wall lizard. It can grow to about 20 cm (7.9 in) in total length. The animal has shown variation in the places it has been introduced to. Fossils have been found in a cave in Greece dating to the early part of the Holocene.
The common wall lizard is a small, thin lizard whose small scales are highly variable in colour and pattern. Its coloration is generally brownish or greyish, and may occasionally be tinged with green. In some individuals, the row of spots along their backs may form a line, while others may have a reticulated pattern with dark spots on the side and scattered white spots that can be blue in the shoulder region. The tail is brown, grey or rust in colour, and may also have light bars on the sides. The belly region has six rows of larger rectangular scales that are generally reddish, pink, or orangish. Common wall lizards may also have dark markings on the throat. This lizard has six distinct morphological forms which are identified by the colouration of... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Wall Lizard in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aigüestortes National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Picos de Europa National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | |
| 5 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 6 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 7 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 8 | Ecrins National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 9 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 10 | Plitvice Lakes National Park | 🇭🇷 Croatia | |
| 11 | Vanoise National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 12 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 13 | Hohe Tauern National Park | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 14 | Camargue | 🇫🇷 France |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilhelma | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 2 | Opel-Zoo | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Zoological Garden of Monaco | 🇲🇨 Monaco | |
| 4 | Lake Tisza Ecocentre | 🇭🇺 Hungary |
Closest Relatives at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Common Wall Lizard in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park?
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Wall Lizard sighting in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park on a given day, based on 206 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 18 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Common Wall Lizard in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park?
June and July
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Wall Lizard in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December, the lowest month. Those are among Sierra de Guadarrama National Park's driest months, with about 45 mm of rain a month against 110 mm in November.
What time of day is best to see a Common Wall Lizard?
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Wall Lizard sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Sierra de Guadarrama National Park the best place to see a Common Wall Lizard?
12th of 14
Of the 14 parks where we can rate Common Wall Lizard sightings, Sierra de Guadarrama National Park ranks 12th at about 30%. The best odds are in Aigüestortes National Park (Spain, about 90%), Picos de Europa National Park (Spain, about 80%) and Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park (Spain, about 80%). All parks ranked.
Which relatives of the Common Wall Lizard live in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park?
Same genus: Podarcis
The closest relatives of the Common Wall Lizard that you can see in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (genus Podarcis) are Guadarrama Wall Lizard (about 40%) and Green Iberian Wall Lizard (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Common Wall Lizard sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Wall Lizard is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (206 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
