The Ibiza wall lizard (Podarcis pityusensis), probably the most colourful lizard species on the planet, has been negatively impacted on its island houses of Ibiza and Formentera within the Mediterranean Sea. That is as a result of horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis), an launched species (doubtless by way of imported olive timber) that’s preying on the wall lizard.
Based on researchers, the Ibiza wall lizard represents greater than half the food plan of the snake, and as a result of this, the lizard has been reclassified as Endangered by the IUCN. Culling of greater than 12,000 of those invasive snakes since 2016 hasn’t stopped the unfold of the species throughout the principle island of Ibiza, and actually, the inhabitants of the snake has accelerated, resulting in a extra fast decline of the enduring lizard.
Horseshoe whip snake swimming in open water off the coast of Ibiza, displaying the identical conduct noticed throughout the colonization of Santa Eulària islet. (C) A detailed-up of the invasive snake. (D) A person from the now-extirpated Ibiza wall lizard inhabitants on Santa Eulària islet. This picture could be the final image taken of a person belonging to this evolutionary vital unit. Picture credit: A, B—Rubén Casas; C—Guillem Casbas; D—Roberto García-Roa.
Scientists initially had thought that small populations of the Ibiza wall lizard dwelling on surrounding islets have been thought-about protected from predation, however that’s not the case. Researchers in April 2024 found, throughout a routine marine chook nesting and monitoring marketing campaign, a horseshoe whip snake swimming from the principle island towards the islet and reaching it. This interplay was captured on video, and a second interplay was additionally noticed and photographed exhibiting the invasive snake exhibiting open sea swimming conduct. A 3rd snake was discovered on the islet. That snake was captured and euthanized. This isn’t the primary occasion of the snake on the islet. In September 2023, 12 snake traps have been deployed on the islet with lively monitoring. From the time of the set up of the traps to Might 2025, 58 snakes have been captured both by way of hand or by way of the traps. Santa Eulària islet is just 4.67 hectares. This places the estimated density of the snake at 12.4 snakes per hectare.
The researchers in 2023 then carried out surveys to find out the abundance of the wall lizard. They noticed solely two lizards September 28, 2023 and one lizard October 4, 2023. Distinction this with a 2016 census the place 72 lizards have been discovered alongside an 869 meter transect on the identical islet. This implies the inhabitants was plentiful 10 years in the past. Eleven extra visits have been made between October 2023 and Might 2025 and 0 lizards have been noticed. The inhabitants on Santa Eulària is now thought-about utterly extirpated.
The whole paper, Swimming snakes wipe out endemic lizards from Mediterranean islets” may be learn on the Ecology Society of America web site.
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