Species:

Podarcis filfolensis  (BEDRIAGA, 1876)

Subspecies (4):

Podarcis filfolensis filfolensis  (BEDRIAGA, 1876)

Podarcis filfolensis generalensis  (GULIA, 1914)

Podarcis filfolensis laurentiimuelleri  (FEJERVARY, 1924)

Podarcis filfolensis maltensis  MERTENS, 1921

Population (4):

Podarcis filfolensis Halfa Rock 

Podarcis filfolensis Large Blue Lagoon Rock 

Podarcis filfolensis Pigeon Rock 

Podarcis filfolensis Ta` Fra Ben 

Extinct subspecies (1):

Podarcis filfolensis kieselbachi  (FEJERVARY, 1924)

Synonyms:

Lacerta filfolensis  BEDRIAGA, 1876

Podarcis filfolensis  ENGELMANN et al, 1993

Common names:

Filfola Lizard (English)
Maltese Wall Lizard (English)
Malta-Mauereidechse (German)

Types:

kieselbachi: (= extinct subspecies) Syntypes: HNHM (Hung. Nat. Museum, Budapest). Possibly burned down in 1956.

laurentiimuelleri: Syntypes: HNHM (Hung. Nat. Museum, Budapest). Possibly burned down in 1956.

maltensis: Holotype: SMF 12489, male

Terra Typica:

filfolensis: Filfola Rock (= Filfla), a very small island south of Malta.

generalensis: Fungus Rock west of Gozo.

kieselbachi: (= extinct subspecies) Saint Paul`s island near Malta.

laurentiimuelleri: Linosa island.

maltensis: Island of Malta.

Relevant taxonomic literature:

• Bedriaga, J. von (1876) -  Die Faraglione-Eidechse und die Entstehung der Farben bei den Eidechsen, eine Erwiderung an Herrn Prof. Dr. Th. Eimer. -  Heidelberg.  

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• Corti, C. & Lo Cascio, P. (2002) -  Podarcis filfolensis (BEDRIAGA, 1876) Maltese Wall Lizard (Italian name: lucertzola maltese). -  In: Corti, C. & P. Lo Cascio (eds.): The Lizards of Italy and Adjacent Areas. p. 84-87.  

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• Rodriguez, V. & Brown, R.P. & Terrasa, B. & Pérez-Mellado, V. & Picornell, A. & Castro, J.A. & Ramon, C. (2013) -  Genetic diversity and historical biogeography of the Maltese wall lizard, Podarcis filfolensis (Squamata: Lacertidae). -  Conservation Genetics, 15 (2): 295-304.    

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  Podarcis filfolensis is an endemic lizard from the Maltese archipelago. There is evidence of human-mediated decline and even extirpation of some insular populations of this species. However, information about the intraspecific genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of this species is limited. Here we analyze genetic markers from a multi-locus dataset (mtDNA, 2,533 bp; nuclear c-mos gene, 353 bp; 11 microsatellites) for individuals from extant populations of P. filfolensis. Despite generally low genetic variability, two main mitochondrial groupings were clearly identified. In general, individuals from the main island of Malta were genetically distinct from those from Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and Small Blue Lagoon Rock, and also from Linosa and Lampione individuals. Three genetic clusters were detected based on microsatellite data: one was found at higher frequency on Malta, while the other two included samples from the remaining islands, showing some concordance with the mtDNA pattern. A time-calibrated Bayesian tree for the principal mitochondrial lineages indicated strong statistical support for two P. filfolensis lineages that originated in the Pleistocene (105.4–869 Ka). We show that these lineages largely meet the criteria for recognition as evolutionary significant units despite some recent admixture (possibly due to recent translocations between islands). Human disturbance, low genetic variability, evidence of bottlenecks and extirpation on one island indicate that a thorough review of the current conservation status of P. filfolensis would be timely.

• Sciberras, J. & Sciberras, A. (2014) -  Behavior of lizards in the Maltese and Pelagian islands: a personal experience. -  L@CERTIDAE, 2014 [1]: 1-10.    

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  Different behavior in populations of Podarcis filflolensis on the Maltese and Pelagian islands are described and discussed.