NEW REPORT ON PODARCIS SICULUS IN EASTERN LIGURIA (NW ITALY)

Abstract

This work reports a population of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), observed for the first time along the Entella River in Carasco (Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, NW Italy) in spring 2024. Nine field surveys were carried out between March and June in 2024, 2025 and 2026. During these surveys, multiple individuals, including adults and juveniles, were recorded. We review the species distribution along the Ligurian coast and southern France, discussing the status of natural populations and framing the introduction vectors of non-native ones. Given the historical records in the neighboring areas and the increasing occurrence of newly introduced populations of P. siculus in Italy and worldwide, we highlight the importance of monitoring this population and assessing its interactions with P. muralis.