Collapse of the endemic lizardPodarcis pityusensison the island of Ibiza mediated by an invasive snake

A dramatic decline or local extinction of the endemic Ibiza wall lizard Podarcis pityusensis has been linked to the rapid spread of the invasive snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis, which colonized the island in 2003. By 2018, the snake had invaded 49% of Ibiza’s land area and was found swimming between Ibiza and surrounding islets, where at least one subspecies has already gone extinct. Transect surveys revealed a stark contrast: lizards were nearly absent in areas with snakes but abundant where they were not. This study quantifies the threat to the lizard, supporting an upgrade in its extinction risk status, and provides critical data for invasive species management and conservation efforts.

Montes, E., Kraus, F., Chergui, B., & Pleguezuelos, J. M. (2021). Collapse of the endemic lizardPodarcis pityusensison the island of Ibiza mediated by an invasive snake. Current Zoology, 68(3), 295–303. https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoab022