New Study Into Maltese Wall Lizard Shows They’re One Species

Taking to social media, Exterminator and researcher Arnold Sciberras unveiled the results of a brand new study concerning the Maltese Wall Lizard – and it showed that they are not so different as priorly thought!

‘For many decades, the Maltese Wall Lizard (Podarcis filfolensis) was divided into “subspecies” based on how they looked on different islands’, Maltese Endemic Wildlife explained while sharing the study.

‘But now, new researchshows that it’s time to rethink everything we thought we knew!’

‘Despite their striking differences in size, shape, and color across Malta, Gozo, Comino, Filfla, and other islets – they’re all part of one species. Modern genetic evidence confirms that these variations are just morphs shaped by island life, not separate subspecies.’

‘Since the genetic study of this species in 2014 we have been implementing this updated taxonomical idea .Now this study calls for an update in our taxonomy and a better understanding of how nature really works on islands and islets.’

#MaltaDaily