It is found in the north-west of Iberia (in Portugal and Spain) at an altitude of up to 1,300 m. It is threatened by habitat loss.

It has a smooth upper side with 10-11 coastal grooves which are dark brown to blackish and usually two parallel golden stripes on the back which can sometimes be broken.

It may shed its tail like a lizard if it feels threatened, and lives for about eight to 10 years.

They mate on land with clutches of 12-20 eggs laid between stones in running water[1] or on the walls of caves.

[4][1] Its natural habitat are moist deciduous forests near streams in mountainous areas of northwest Spain and north and central Portugal and has been introduced in the Sintra Mountains, but is also found in eucalypt plantations, pine forests and even shrubland.