The Pitiusas Lizard (Podarcis Pityusensis) is a kind of pavement reptile Endemic for the Balearic Islands of the Lacertidae family. Although it originally came from Ibiza and Forenta, it was also introduced on the island of Mallorca.
By Average size and variable appearance, it is a robust, short species and strong legsOf which are around thirty subspecies, some of which have a very dark color with the cobalt blue belly. Lives stony peripheral places and also approaches human houses, walls, landfills and restaurants. In nearby islands of Puebla Los Peñascos without vegetation.
Snakes against lizards
The Ministry of Agriculture, the Fisheries and the Natural Environment, has been launched by the consortium for the recovery of the Fauna of the Balearian Islands (COFIB), which depends on the general directorate of the natural medium and forest management, A video to increase consciousness among the population about the threat that represents incoming snakes for the preservation of the Pitiusas hamedis ((Podarcis Pityusensis).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQVGWIIT25A
The publication, of 2 minutes and 15 seconds, has the goal of Awareness -raising both residents and touristsof the delicate situation in which these endemic and indigenous species of Ibiza and Forenta are found, and also of the severity of the invasion of snakes that now also reach the islands where the populations of these unique and high lizards live ecological value
The publication, which is part of the Various actions carried out by the government for the preservation and protection of the Pitiusas hamedisIt is part of the control and extermination project of different invasive species in different habitats and geographical locations, financed by the recovery, transformation and resilience plan of the recovery and resilient mechanism (PRTR-MRR), loaded for the next generation of funds EU .
In the video the need for Prepare Cofib in the case of observing the presence of snakesVia the COFIB Green Line application – Invasive species (www.lineaverdecofib.es), to prevent new areas.
This audiovisual publication, available in Catalan, Spanish and English, is prepared with high quality images of the documentary documentaries Rubén Casas, with the messages in the form of subtitles. That must be emphasized Filming is carried out in controlled circumstances, with supervision at all times of COFIB technicians.
More control measures of invasive species
Since 2022, other actions for the control of invasive species that threaten the fauna and flora of the Balearian islands have been carried out in the framework of the above project. Actions for biosafility are included, which They include supervision in all Pitiusos Islands to ensure that snakes have not arrived Neither other invasive species (such as rodents) and the elaboration of visual lizards, thanks to a new ship obtained with the next generation of EU funds.
In the case of finding invasive species, it is immediately informed of the government species protection service and acts urgently for Manage the invasion, as happened on the Murada Islands, Van Verwoters or Santa Eulalia, or in the island of S’ora. Some islands in Mallorca are also assessed and controlled, such as one of the Malgrats Islands, where snakes have already arrived, or the bull, where there is a high risk to arrive.
Likewise, the Mapache check in the Sierra de Tramuntana in Mallorca is intensified with the acquisition of 150 cages and 85 photo cameras and the reinforcement of the field team with a full-time person and a vehicle. It has Improved animal welfare, because the samples are recorded by applying an innovative methodology With external cage valves, who warn technicians who can remove the animal immediately.
The knowledge of the operation of the population of these invasive speciesThanks to a study of the abundance and population growth that was carried out by the IMEDEA-CSIC-SUB Animal Ecology and Demography Group.
On the other hand, seven urban reserves for the lizards of the Pitiusas have been created, thanks to the support of the municipalities and the islands of Ibiza and Forenta. They are installed in every reservation Thirty artificial hiding places for lizards and explanatory posters And 400 native plants are planted from which they feed and attract insects that also catch. The dangers to prevent the presence of predators, such as cats and snakes have been identified.
The methodology for Improve the urban environment to favor lizards It has been collected in a manual for good practices for the preservation of the Pitiusas lizard in parks and gardens. In addition, a brochure and a short video have been published to encourage individual gardens in urban areas, hotels, schools, etc., etc. apply measures in favor of lizards.
Other versions in 2025
This year, offering the derivative of the Tagomago Islands is confused, it is to see and it is Vedranell, in Ibiza, and s’estalmador, in Forenta, to survive the populations of the population population improve Sea birds that nest in these islands, especially the endemic Balear. It is also planned to perform versions for the extermination of the invasive flora in the island of S’espardell, in Forenta, where there are stains of 1.5 ha of the lunch flower (DISSPHIMA SP.), 500 feet Chumbas (Opuntia sp.), A few dozen plays (Agave American) and approximately 70 m² nail from León (Carpobrotus Edulis).