The Lebanon lizard (Phoenicolacerta laevis) is confirmed in Georgia only from the area of Anaklia Castle and the adjacent meadow; it is a probably unintentionally introduced lacertid and is harmless to people. The 2026 Georgian checklist treats the species as biologically valid and introduced in Georgia. The 2017 study linked the Anaklia population genetically with populations from southern Türkiye, so records from other parts of Georgia should not be treated as established without evidence.
Identification
How to identify Lebanon Lizard
In Georgia, the most important clues for identifying the Lebanon lizard are place, behavior, and the typical lacertid body shape. Colour alone is not a reliable field mark because native Lacerta and Darevskia species can look similar.
Often confused with
In Georgia it is confirmed only from the Anaklia Castle area. A similar lizard photographed elsewhere should not automatically be treated as this species.
It is a small, fast lacertid with a long tail, well-developed limbs, and daytime activity. That separates it clearly from legless lizards, but not from every native lacertid.
At Anaklia it is especially associated with old stone walls and nearby grassy ground. The 2017 study notes that other reptiles recorded in the same area did not mainly use stone walls as habitat.
In Georgia it can be confused with the Pontic meadow lizard, sand lizard, or other Darevskia. Locality, habitat, and good photographs are often more reliable than dorsal colour alone.
It is non-venomous and presents no medical risk to people. Avoid handling wild lizards; photograph the animal and record the exact location instead.
Gallery
Lebanon Lizard in photos
The confirmed Georgian habitat is very specific: the old stone walls of Anaklia Castle and the adjoining grassy area with Rubus shrubs, near the mouth of the Enguri and the Black Sea coast. The 2017 authors described an area of about one hectare where lizards moved on the walls and nearby meadow. This record does not mean the species occurs throughout western Georgia or in every coastal habitat.
Biology
Diet, behavior, and conservation
Diet
The diet of the Anaklia population has not been described in detail in the published sources. Lacertid lizards, including Phoenicolacerta, usually feed on small invertebrates, but the diet of the Georgian population still needs verification.
Behavior
This is a fast, diurnal lacertid. At Anaklia, on 6 May 2017 around midday, the authors saw more than 100 adult and young lizards during a one-hour observation, indicating an established but spatially restricted population. Full seasonal activity in Georgia has not been published; lowland Turkish populations are described as active from March to September.
Conservation
Globally, the species occurs across the eastern Mediterranean region, and The Reptile Database shows its IUCN category as Least Concern. In Georgia it is not treated as native fauna and is known only from one small, probably human-introduced population. Changes to the Anaklia Castle walls and adjacent vegetation could damage this isolated population; a Georgian national protection status is not verified on this page.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Lebanon Lizard.
Yes, but it is confirmed only from the Anaklia area. The 2026 Georgian checklist lists it as an unintentionally introduced species.
The published Georgian record refers to the area around Anaklia Castle, near the mouth of the Enguri, in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti.
No. Genetic data connect the Anaklia population with southern Türkiye, and the authors treat it as probably introduced by human activity.
No. The Lebanon lizard is non-venomous and harmless to people. Even so, wild lizards should not be handled unnecessarily.
In Georgia, locality is the main clue: the Anaklia Castle area. It is a small, fast, day-active lacertid; colour alone is not enough for a reliable identification.
In lowland Turkish populations, adult snout-vent length is roughly 6–7 cm. Full size data for the Georgian population are not verified on this page.
Full seasonal activity in Georgia has not been published. Active adults and young were recorded at Anaklia on 6 May around midday.
The 2017 authors noted that changes to the Anaklia Castle walls and adjacent vegetation could harm the small isolated population.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2017 — Isolated population of Phoenicolacerta laevis from the Georgian Black Sea Coast
- Bülbül et al. 2021 — Body size and age structure of Phoenicolacerta laevis in a lowland Turkish population
- Şahin et al. 2025 — Record of Phoenicolacerta laevis in northern Türkiye and possible human-mediated dispersal
- The Reptile Database — Phoenicolacerta laevis
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
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