mystery lizard from S Italy

[Ilias Strachinis]

However, the scaling on the flanks in the second picture looks ... strangely blurry.

I think that's because of the low photo quality, if you see the 3rd photo the scales at the same area look normal, nigropunctatus style.

[Mario Schweiger]

I showed the pics Werner Mayer.
His statement: This isnt Adolfus, Ichnotropis.
Its an Algyroides nigropunctatus, half grown male.

Mario

[Ilias Strachinis]

it's Algyroides sp for sure. The question is if this population is recently introduced or long long ago.
In the 1st case it's A.nigropunctatus, same ssp as that from the area that has been introduced.
In the 2nd case it could be a different ssp (or even sp if it's about millions of years - just a very small chance)

[Jeroen Speybroeck]

The question is if this population is recently introduced or long long ago.
In the 1st case it's A.nigropunctatus, same ssp as that from the area that has been introduced.
In the 2nd case it could be a different ssp (or even sp if it's about millions of years - just a very small chance)

So "millions of years" ago lizards were 'introduced' + they evolved into something else + they are discovered after all this time in 2010 by a random guy taking pictures in an urban environment??? Come on...

I showed the pics Werner Mayer.

imho = case closed!

I would even dare to bet that they originate from Korfu.

[Ilias Strachinis]

So "millions of years" ago lizards were 'introduced' + they evolved into something else + they are discovered after all this time in 2010 by a random guy taking pictures in an urban environment??? Come on...

You know there is a tiny chance for this to be real. We've seen it before for other species. It's possible for a small population to be isolated for some reason in a particular area, for so long so to evolve into a diff subspecies (at least), and not found yet. Also, I don't know how random is this guy or where exactly he took those photos and why. It's just a guess about an extraordinary (but still possible) case, considering your first post.

imho = case closed!
I would even dare to bet that they originate from Korfu.

Seems to be, but I would check to be 100% sure.
and why not from Kefalonia for example?

[Jeroen Speybroeck]

You know there is a tiny chance for this to be real.

Not really, no. On top of my previous argumentation, the dry Puglia climate is generally very unsuitable for Algyroides. But do of course feel free to sample all the hundreds exogenous lizard populations across Europe.

Korfu was of course just a guess, inspired by the monsterous densities of the species on Korfu combined with existing sea route traffic, but it can come from anywhere of course.

[Ilias Strachinis]

But do of course feel free to sample all the hundreds exogenous lizard populations across Europe.

no thanks! I'd rather stay on guesses at the moment