Troodos Rock Lizard

Phoenicolacerta troodica is a small lizard with a maximum length of 15 cm (5.9 in), although 10 cm (3.9 in) is more typical. The overall colour is brownish green to greyish green with a broad, longitudinal dark brown stripe running along the sides from the snout to the tail, with a white line along the lower margin of this stripe, separating it from the pale underside. In the breeding season the males develop orange blotches on the sides of the head and their underside also changes to orange with blue and red spots along the flanks.

Phoenicolacerta troodica is endemic to Cyprus where it is found all over the island from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft) above sea level in a wide variety of habitats, with the availability of shade being the most important requirement.

== References ==

Phoenicolacerta troodica is classified within the genus Phoenicolacerta, a name which prefixes the Latin word, Phoenice, meaning "Phoenicia", the coast of the Levant, where most of the species of these lizards are found, with lacerta, "a lizard". The specific name refers to the type locality being in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus.