About Podarcis melisellensis (Braun, 1877)
The Dalmatian wall lizard, scientifically named Podarcis melisellensis, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, and pastureland. Dalmatian wall lizards grow up to 65 mm (2.6 in) in snout–vent length, and the tail is about twice as long as the body. Female Dalmatian wall lizards lay 2 to 8 eggs per clutch. Upon hatching, juveniles measure around 25 mm (0.98 in) in snout–vent length. This species displays three distinct ventral color morphs: yellow, orange, and white. Orange morph males are more dominant than other morphs in intrasexual competition, as the orange color signals greater aggression. Orange morph lizards are larger in size and have stronger bite force, which lets them fend off competing males to claim territory and mate with their chosen female. Females of this species prefer orange males, because larger, healthier orange males can provide high-quality indirect benefits to a female's offspring. Even though females prefer mating with orange morphs, they will still mate with yellow morphs. Yellow morph lizards provide females with more direct benefits, such as protection and small territory, rather than indirect benefits. White males can only mate by intruding on another male's territory and mating with the females that belong to that male.
