NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY;
Volume: 22 (No.1) - pp. 85 - 92 - Art no:e261505
A rocky species in a flat plain! Records of Podarcis muralis in the western Pannonian plain (Central Europe) outside its distribution range
Full-length research papers → Herpetology
Authors
Alfred-Ștefan CICORT-LUCACIU1, *, Andreea-Ionela POP2, Abigail CICORT1, Sebastian ULICI1, Ilie-Cătălin TELCEAN1
1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Informatics and Sciences, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania.
2. Regina Maria Secondary School, Avram Iancu, Romania.
* Corresponding author: A.-Ș. Cicort-Lucaciu, E-mail: cicort.alfred@yahoo.com
DOI https://doi.org/10.61215/nwjz.2026.22.1.10
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Keywords
range expansion, human-mediated dispersal, habitats, distribution, conservation.
Abstract
Podarcis muralis is among the most successful European lizards in colonizing human-made habitats, a trait that has facilitated its biological invasion both within and beyond its native range. Naturally associated with rocky habitats, it has adapted to human settlements, occupying mineral-based constructions with nearby vegetation. In Romania, the species naturally occurs at higher elevations in the southern and central Carpathians and their neighboring areas. However, isolated populations were recorded outside this natural range, on railways, along road edges, or on river embankments. In 2023 and 2024, we identified large populations on a flat plain in western Romania near the border with Hungary. In total, P. muralis was recorded in 5 localities in Romania and 3 localities in Hungary. Numerous individuals were observed. With one exception, juveniles were present in each locality, proving that the populations are reproducing. The new populations are forming a continuous distribution spanning eight settlements between Biharkeresztes (Hungary) and Oradea (Romania). Thus, at least in Romania, the populations seem isolated from those in the species' natural range, possibly connected to those in Hungary, which, in turn, are a new presence and were probably introduced. The absence of a connection between the distribution ranges in Romania rules out a natural advance towards the plains in response to climate warming. Thus, the possibility of both an eastward advance from Hungary and a human-mediated introduction (probably multiple independent events, given the many localities) remains plausible. The newly established populations display distinct ecological behavior compared to nearby mountain populations, suggesting possible differences in origin or genetic composition. Additional research should assess the potential threats posed by this invader to native P. muralis from higher elevations and to other native lowland lizards, notably Lacerta agilis, which appears to be replaced in some habitat types, like cemeteries.
Article history
Received: 03 March 2026 / Accepted: 14 May 2026 / Published online: 15 June 2026 / Printed: 30 June 2026
Authors` ORCID IDs
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