The Herpetofauna of Comino and satellite islets : with a note on the colouration of Podarcis Filfolensis

Abstract

Comino is the third largest island, in terms of size, in the Maltese Archipelago, having an area of 2.6 km2 • It is situated towards the north of Malta, in line between Malta and Gozo. The most important satellite islets of Comino border Blue Lagoon Bay on the western coast. These include Cominotto and two other rocks (Blue Lagoon Islets) separated from each other and the coast of Comino by sea gaps of about 0.05 km. Comino and its satellite islets are composed of an Upper Coralline limestone cap. The habitat of Comino ranges from garrigue to pockets of macquis and agricultural land. Cominotto and the Blue Lagoon Islets may be described as garrigue. Little is known about the herpetofauna of these islets, and the few records available are scattered in the literature. Borg and Busuttil (1925) were the first to attempt a comprehensive list of reptiles found on these islands. Their list unfortunately lacks scientific names, being made up only of the Maltese vernacular names. This work is often overlooked,so that Lanza (1973) in his review of circumsicilian herpetofauna includes only two species - Podarcis filfolensis and Chalcides ocellatus from Comino. The present author has been able to confirm many of the previously recorded species and includes two new records. The presence of Tarentola mauritanica from Comino and Cominotto, and Chalcides ocellatus from Cominotto reported by Borg and Busuttil (1925) was not confirmed.