De Troodoshagedis werd jarenlang als een ondersoort van de Syrische hagedis (Phoenicolacerta laevis) beschouwd. Gewijzigde inzichten, gebaseerd op bloedserumonderzoek en het feit dat deze hagedissoort een geïsoleerd verspreidingsgebied heeft en alleen op Cyprus voorkomt zijn aanleiding geweest om de Troodoshagedis als aparte soort te beschouwen (Tosunoglu et al., 1999).

Observations on the Troodos lizard (Phoenico­lacerta troodica) in northern Cyprus

Observations regarding Phoenicolacerta troodica in its typical (semi)natural habitats in Northern Cyprus are described. Ph. troodica, at first, was thought to be a subspecies of Ph. laevis. But detailed studies revealed that Ph. troodica should be considered a full species. Fact is that this lizard lives on Cyprus only. This makes it an endemic species.
The author describes this typical wall lizard species as very opportunistic. It can be found in various natural en semi-natural habitats (garden walls, roadsides, walls or rocky formations in forest areas. Sometimes other reptile species were found in the same habitat. For instance Laudakia stellio which, in theory, could be a predator, especially for young Phoenicolacerta.
According to the author this species is fairly easy to recognize. Both sexes have a typical white colored band on the flanks.
This paper contains a list with differences between Ph. troodica and Ph. laevis and a list with biometrical data regarding Ph. troodica.
Some information on predation en predators is also presented.