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| Animals - Reptiles |
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Reptiles includes terrestrial animals. Reptiles have:
lungs for gaseous exchange
Reptiles are ectothermic i.e. their body temperature depends from the outside environment. For example if the surrounding is cold, the temperature inside the reptile is cold. This makes it move sluggish. That's why one can see lizards bask in the sun, to raise their body temperatures.
Fertilization occurs internally. There are no larval stages.
Intereting to say is that some reptiles such as lizards and geckos, when caught from their tail, they can shed it. The tail continues to wriggle to make the predator think it still has the prey in her mouth. This gives time to the reptile to escape. The tail regenerates after some weeks.
Reptiles of the Maltese Islands
Leathery Turtle (Fekruna Sewda) Dermochelys coriacea
180cm. The only marine turtle whose carapace (shell) is covered with skin. Because of this the carapace is softer than that of other turtles. Does not breed in the Mediterranean, but probably enters accidentally during its migration near the Straits of Gibraltar. Rare.
Loggerhead Turtle (Fekruna Komuni) Caretta caretta
70cm in Maltese waters. Weight 180kg. Reddish-brown carapace is heart shaped, head rather large with a strong beak. In deep waters it feeds on jellyfish and other animals, and near the shore it also takes crabs, sea-urchins and molluscs. Eggs are laid on sandy beaches from late May to late August, in four clutches, not always on the same beach. Clutch consists of 80-100 eggs which hatch in 20-60 days, depending on sand temperatures. Bred at Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo up to the 1930s. Scarce.
Green Turtle (Fekruna Hadra) Chelonia mydas
110cm. Weight up to 230kg. Carapace more oval than in Loggerhead. Colour more olive-green. Prefers shallow waters with Posidonia. Lays four clutches in June-August, with about 120 eggs in each clutch.
Moorish Gecko (Wizgha tal-Kampanja) Tarentola mauritanica
15cm. Flat and broad. Can be distinguished from other geckos because only the third and fourth toes bear claws. Found near the coast in warm, dry places. Lives in rubble walls, rocks, cliffs, disused buildings and walls of houses. Mostly seen in the evening and at night, especially near street or garden lamps, where it preys on insects attracted by the light. Often basks in the sun during the day.
Turkish Gecko (Wizgha tad-Djar) Hemidactylus turcicus
10cm. Rather slender with pale, translucent skin. All toes bear claws, unlike Moorish Gecko. Prefers warm places both near the coast and inland. Also present on the smaller islets. Lives in rubble walls, on rocks and cliffs, cave mouths and trees, as well as inside houses. Feeds on insects and spiders. Usually emerges at dusk, rarely during the day. Lays 2 eggs which hatch in 2-3 months. Very common.
Mediterranean Chameleon (Kamaleont) Chamaleo chamaeleon
30cm. Normally greenish or brown with paler markings. Colours can turn lighter or darker. When threatened, apart from changing colour, it puffs up its body and opens its mouth to look bigger and more fierce. Females leave the trees to lay eggs in a hole dug near the base of the trunk; the eggs are then covered with soil. Adapted for life in wooded areas, but often seen in garigue habitats. Was introduced in the 19th Century from North Africa, brought by protestant missionaries. It was first released in the gardens of what later had to become the Jesuit college of St. Ignasius in St. Julians. Has since spread to all parts of the island of Malta. Occurs in Gozo too. Frequent.
Maltese Wall Lizard (Gremxula ta' Malta) Podarcis filflolensis
28cm. Four Maltese subspecies are known:
maltensis (islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino) - generally greenish, and often speckled;
filfolensis (Filfla) - blackish with blue or pale blue spots: the largest of the four races;
kieselbachi (Selmunett) - very variable in colour, from brown to grey with small black spots, and yellow belly;
generalensis (Fungus Rock) - reddish below, with bluish flanks
Females and young lack the bright colour of the males, and are generally brownish. Male shows territorial behaviour, claiming a small patch of land and threatening other approaching males. During their threat display, the males puff themselves up, tremble and raise their heads to display the bright colours below the neck. When a female approaches, the male does similar movement, which now serve to attract the female for mating. This takes place in spring, soon followed by the laying of 1-2 eggs in the soil or under a stone. Eggs normally hatch between June and mid-August. Endemic to Malta and to the islands of Linosa and Lampione, where a fifth subspecies occurs. A separate race probably exists on Kemmunett. Very Common.
Ocellated Skink (Xahmet l-Art) Chalcides ocellatus
30cm. Fawn with rows of black spots on back, flanks and tail. Legs short, and when moving crawls on its belly. Found on cultivated ground or in sandy localities, where it hides in cracks at the base of walls or beneath stones. Gives birth to 2-3 young. Common.
Algerian Whip Snake (Serp Ahdar) Coluber algirus
100cm. Colour ash-grey or brown with darker head, often with dark bands on the back. Belly whitish. Hunts small animals by day in dry, rocky habitats, also in disused buildings and piles of stones. Probably introduced from North Africa by cargo ships. Not found elsewhere in Europe. Rare.
Western Whip Snake (Serp Iswed) Coluber viridiflavus
150cm. The largest snake on the Maltese Islands. Black, often with a greenish tinge. Belly light grey, sometimes yellowish. Young are pale ash-grey with olive-green head until their fourth year, when they start to take on the adult colours. Found mainly in dry areas among stones and vegetation, but encountered in most habitats. Also climbs trees, and likes basking in the sun. Feeds on lizards and other reptiles and often takes smaller snakes, frogs, mice, young birds and large insects. Mating begins in March and the female lays 5-15 eggs in June or July. Hatching occurs 6-8 weeks later. Common.
Leopard snake (Lifgha) Elaphe situla
100cm. Ash-grey or yellowish with numerous black-bordered reddish-brown spots. Eyes also reddish. Found mostly on the ground among stones and vegetation in garigue habitats and field verges. Active by day, but often seen at dusk. Feeds on small animals. 2-7 eggs are laid. Scarce.
Cat Snake (Teleskopu) Telescopus fallax
100cm. Slender, with broad, flattened head. Ash-grey, brown or yellowish brown, with darker markings. Eyes with vertical pupil. Prefers areas with rocks and boulders, under which it retreats during the day. Hunts lizards and small mice, generally at dusk, also at night in summer. Poisonous. Venom, however, is weak and injected by back teeth of upper jaw, thus only effective on small prey which can be swallowed whole. 7-8 eggs are laid. Rare.
