Lebanon Lizard
Phoenicolacerta laevis
An introduced lacertid — a single Georgian locality (Anaklia), not native fauna.
Overview
What is Lebanon Lizard
The Lebanon lizard (Phoenicolacerta laevis) is a lacertid. Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 treat species status as biologically valid and list it as unintentionally introduced: a single location in Georgia, genetically close to populations from southern Türkiye. The Georgian record is Tarkhnishvili et al. (2017a); the discussion names it, with Trachemys scripta, as introduced from distant geographic regions (Tarkhnishvili et al. 2017b; Reshetnikov et al. 2023). Figure and barcodes are from Anaklia. It is harmless to people.
Last updated
Gallery
Lebanon Lizard in photos
Photo: Kseniia Marianna Prondzynska · iNaturalist
Photo: kardelen · iNaturalist
Photo: Siegfried Troidl · iNaturalist
Identification
How to identify Lebanon Lizard
An introduced lacertid at Anaklia. It is not a native Georgian lizard.
A single locality in Georgia: Anaklia (Black Sea coast). Other regions are not assigned here.
Genetically close to southern Türkiye populations. Figure and barcodes are from Anaklia.
Unintentionally introduced — not native fauna. One of two introduced species on the checklist (the other is the pond slider).
Harmless to people. A diurnal lacertid; not a native Georgian lizard.
At Anaklia it can resemble native Darevskia or Lacerta — context is Anaklia and introduced status, not a new locality.
Quiz
Next: which lizard is it?
Lebanon Lizard is in the Georgia lizard quiz. Ten field photos, four names — eye practice, not field ID.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Lebanon Lizard.
No. Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 list it as unintentionally introduced from distant regions (2017a, 2017b).
One locality: Anaklia. The figure and barcodes are from there.
Harmless. It has no venom.
Native Lacerta and Darevskia occur naturally in Georgia. This species is at Anaklia and is genetically tied to southern Türkiye.
An introduced lacertid at Anaklia. It is not a native Georgian lizard.
Small invertebrates; the checklist does not specify diet.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2017a — Isolated population of Phoenicolacerta laevis from the Georgian Black Sea Coast
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Georgian herpetofauna records cited in Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026
- The Reptile Database
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Related guides
Continue with related pages
Lizard species
Every lizard in the index — Darevskia in its own block. An empty cell is a missing source.
IndexQuizWhich lizard is it?
A photo, four names, instant feedback — Georgia’s lizard catalog. This is not the field guide.
Start the quizIDWhat lizard is this?
Photo, size, colour, range. For Darevskia, colour is not enough.
ID guide
Darevskia brauneri
Brauner's Rock Lizard
Western and central Greater Caucasus — Mestia (Manshura), Martvili, Ertso Lake
Darevskia derjugini
Derjugin's Lizard
Western Georgia and the forest belt of eastern Georgia
Darevskia mixta
Mixed Rock Lizard
Western Georgia (not Adjara) — Sairme, Tchkhorotskhu, Baniskhevi
Darevskia obscura
Obscure Rock Lizard
Upper Mtkvari, Trialeti, Meskheti, Javakheti, Enguri — Akhaltsikhe, Rveli/Baniskhevi, Akhalkalaki