Wall Lizards Thrive on Isle of Wight Undercliff
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Lev Parikian observed a wall lizard on Easter morning on the Isle of Wight's Ventnor Undercliff, watching it bask on the base of an olive tree in camouflage — olive, grey, brown, and two yellow flank stripes — on what he calls the warmest day of the year
- Wall lizard origins on the Undercliff are disputed, with theories ranging from shipwreck survivors to escapees introduced by 19th-century collectors, or simply wild animals at the northernmost end of their natural range
- A genetic study cited in the piece traces the Undercliff wall lizards to Italy, which sits in the middle of the species' European range
- The Ventnor Undercliff's microclimate suits wall lizards with south-facing terraces, scrubby vegetation, and crevices they can dive into when it gets too hot or when danger approaches
- Parikian initially mistook the lizard's bold approach for curiosity, only to realize he was sitting in its way; once he stood up, the reptile scampered past — 'pitter-patter' — without acknowledgment
Why it matters: The Ventnor Undercliff's Mediterranean microclimate sustains a well-established wall lizard population that a genetic study links to Italy, and the source's account of one lizard striding up to a human at close range suggests a population habituated to the people who share its south-facing terraces.
Ask SkimNews
