History and origin
The Tyrrhenian wall lizard was first described by Gmelin in 1789, the scientific name of this species is Podarcis tiliguerta, Podarcis from Greek meaning 'agile' and 'feet'. Tiliguerta from Latin meaning 'Tyrrhenian'.

Characteristics
They are the most common lizard within their range, with sometimes up to 2000 specimens per hectare in correct habitat.

Description
=Size=
The eggs measure 10 to 15 mm long. They measure about 50 to 60 mm long at hatch. They can grow up to 65 mm long, their tail being up to twice that size making an adult size of up to 190 mm long.
=Morphology=
They are robust, long, they have a small yet pointed head. Long limbs and fingers. Their tail is roughly twice the size of the body. They have small smooth scales.
=Patterns & colours=
The pattern and coloration varies by sex, males are usually brown, light-brown, olive-brown, yellow-brown with a lighter patch on their back running from the nose backwards with many darker blotches within this area. They have a lime green tail, and often have blue spots above their front limbs, on their sides they have light spots on a black or very dark background colour. Females are brown, brownish-red, rusty colour with a very light line on the top of each flank and another light line in the middle of the sides.

Geographical range
They are only found on Corsica and Sardinia.

Subspecies
None described.

Sexual differences
The males are more colourful then females, they are also more spotted whereas females are more lined in pattern.

Seasonal variations
None.

Diet
They feed on insects.

Defensive habits
They flee at the first sight of danger.

Reproduction
Breeding occurs when they wake up from hibernation in spring. They usually lay between 6 to 12 eggs laid in dense vegetation, in holes in the ground, under stones, they develop for around 8 to 12 weeks. The eggs usually hatch out in July.

Sexual maturity, life span
The average life span for Podarcis tiliguerta is about 10 years. When they reach their sexual maturity is unknown.

Habits
They are active by day. They occur close to people, they enjoy to climb but they aren't found as high as the Bedriaga's rock lizard. They are very common in the correct habitat with some areas containing between 700 to 900 specimens per hectare on Corsica, and on offshore islands these lizards may be as dense as up to 2000 per hectare. This species seems to have almost been replaced by the Italian wall lizard on the east coast of Corsica where that species was accidentally introduced from mainland Italy probably came ashore by ferry.

Habitat
They are found from sea level up to about 1600 to 1800 meters in altitude. They inhabit in dry and also in more damp situations, such as woods, at wood edges, dry stone paths and walls, Mediterranean scrub...

Predators
They are eaten by birds, large insects, small mammals, snakes...