The Iberian emerald lizard (Lacerta schreiberi), also known commonly as Schreiber's green lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

Etymology

The specific name, schreiberi, is in honor of Austrian zoologist Egid Schreiber (1836–1913), author of Herpetologia Europaea (1875). It is known as Lagarto-de-água (water lizard) in Portuguese and lagarto verdinegro (green and black lizard) in Spanish.

Geographic range

Lacerta schreiberi is found in Portugal and Spain.

Habitat

The natural habitats of L. schreiberi are temperate forests and shrublands, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, and pastureland.

Conservation status

Lacerta schreiberi is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

A large species, L. schreiberi measures about 13.5 cm snout-to-vent (SVL); including the tail, it measures about 38 cm.

Diet

Lacerta schreiberi is mainly insectivorous, though it also preys on small lizards like the iberian wall lizard or large psammodromus.

Reproduction

Lacerta schreiberi is oviparous. Clutch size varies from 11 to 28 eggs.