Static magnetic fields influence magnetic alignment and movement patterns of free‐ranging Lilford's wall lizards

Abstract Many vertebrates rely on the Earth's magnetic field for orientation, navigation and spatial positioning. This ability, known as magnetoreception, is well documented across various taxa, yet its role in lizards remains poorly understood. By exposing free‐ranging Lilford's wall lizards ( Podarcis lilfordi ) to a static magnetic field in which the magnetic north was rotated to the east, we observed significant changes in their basking alignments and movement patterns. Lizards basking in the ambient magnetic field aligned along an NNE–SSW axis, whereas those in the altered magnetic field shifted to an ESE‐WNW alignment, consistent with the imposed 90° rotation. Additionally, lizards moving within the altered field exhibited directional movements along the manipulated magnetic north–south axis, contrasting with the random movements observed in controls. These findings reinforce the role of magnetic fields in lizard orientation and movement. On Aire Island, P. lilfordi is non‐territorial, with individuals displaying large home range shifts in response to food availability; hence, our results highlight the ecological relevance of magnetic orientation in species with extensive spatial dynamics. Our results provide strong evidence that both spontaneous magnetic alignment during basking and directional orientation during movement are influenced by the magnetic field, highlighting its role in the spatial behaviour of P. lilfordi . These findings contribute to the growing understanding of magnetoreception in reptiles and its ecological relevance in Lacertidae species.