Meet Malta’s tiny sun-lover! The speckled wall lizard spotted in Gozo

If you’ve ever gone for a stroll along a sunny path in Malta or Gozo, chances are you’ve seen a quick flash of green or brown darting out of sight – that’s the Maltese wall lizard (Podarcis filfolensis), one of the most charming little creatures in the islands' wild world.

Local wildlife photographer Denis Cachia recently captured a striking photo of a speckled yellow and black variety of this native lizard basking on a rock in Gozo, and it’s as photogenic as it is fascinating!

Over time, the Maltese Wall Lizard has developed different colours and markings depending on which island (or islet) it lives on. The Filfla variety, for example, is known for being jet black with a bluish sheen!

Here are some fun facts about the colourful creatures:

They LOVE the sun

Wall lizards are cold-blooded and can often be seen soaking up the sun on walls, rocks, or paths.

They can drop their tail!

If threatened, they’ll detach their tail to distract predators — and it eventually grows back.

They’re excellent climbers

Thanks to their sticky toe pads, they’re agile climbers and often scramble up walls with ease.

They’re tiny but speedy

Though usually only 15–20cm long, they can move surprisingly fast to escape danger. In fact, rather than spotting the creature in its entirely, you’re likely to spot the flick of a head or tail. This makes Denis’s photo capture even more impressive!

Written by

Francesca Vella

Francesca has always felt most at home in a cinema or theatre, particularly if musicals are involved. She loves to read, write, and share about her experiences of both the fictional and the real world.