When you walk the streets in Stresa and most in Northern Italy, you tend to get a bit of a scare because these little critters come at you all the time. And no it isn't a bird or a mouse. It is a Lucertola or we know it as a wall lizard. These lizards are native to Europe and grow 5 to 8 inches long (including the tail) and are super fast when they are scared.
These little lizards are brownish or greyish in colour but sometimes can have some green tinge on them. They prefer rocky environments where they can scurry between rock, debris or buildings. But when the sun comes out they can be found lazing in the suns rays, but when it gets really hot. they find its den in building holes or underground. Lizards have the particularity of being able to lose their tail if this is grabbed by any predator; this part of the body can later reform itself, growing up to 2 mm per day. They live on average 4-6 years and some specimens even live 10 years and their diets mainly include insect, spiders, berries and small fruits.
Here is a video of the little lucertola's in action
Here are some photos of what they look like bathing in the sun
Comments