Introduction: GUNTRAM DEICHSEL, November 2010
In recent decades there have been reports on populations of lizards, whose origin is in drifting or release. Probably most of the younger `island populations` of Podarcis muralis in Germany are due to release, where herpetoculture has greatly developed over the past hundred years, reptiles were discharged without reflecting the environmental dangers and consequences. But environmental influences such as floods can also be the cause of drifting to distant areas. In some cases, the drifting could be linked to freight transports.
Even in North America some lizard populations have become known, such as Podarcis muralis maculiventris in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana (U.S.A.) and Podarcis muralis maculiventris in British Columbia (Canada), and the still expanding population of Podarcis siculus campestris. In Topeka, Kansas there is an occurence of Lacerta bilineata as well. Podarcis siculus campestris is found about 30 miles east of Manhattan on Long Island around Hempstead which meanwhile advanced to Manhattan and The Bronx . The colony of Podarcis siculus campestris in Philadelphia, is considered extinct. A colony of this sub-species was discovered in Mt. Laurel NJ in the year 2008. A colony of Podarcis siculus siculus was discovered in California (L.A. county) in the year 2010.
Because this very complex topic is beyond the scope of a single author, we are composing a mosaic from reports and observations, in order to provide an overview of the situation which will be updated cotinuously. In this context, we are always interested in relevant contributions and observations for publication on this page.
| Austria |
| Canada |
| France |
| Greece |
| Italy |
| Liechtenstein |
| Netherlands |
| Spain |
| Switzerland |
| Türkiye |
| United Kingdom |
| USA |