Habitat preferences of the Levant Green Lizard, Lacerta media israelica (Peters, 1964)

Abstract

The Levant Green Lizard, Lacerta media israelica (Peters, 1964), is a rare and declining lizard species that is classified as regionally vulnerable in Israel and Lebanon. We found information about historical observations of this species at 42 different locations. During field work at these and 12 additional locations between March and July 2009, we found 35 individuals at 21 different sites. Sixty-six percent of formerly inhabited places appeared not to be inhabited by the species anymore. L. media israelica inhabited heterogeneous plots, with an average of 30% herbaceous and shrub layer, moderate slope angle and a high proportion of woodland cover. Most observations occurred at the margins of anthropogenic installations and near woodland sites, such as fruit plantations, car parks, trails and traditional pasture landscape. To conserve populations of the Levant Green Lizard, it will be important to maintain landscape heterogeneity, including extensively used semi-open shrubland areas (such as local garigue or ‘batha’) for the protection of this species.