Lacertidae:

Elongate lizards with conical heads on distinct necks, long and robust trunks, long moderately thick tails, and well-developed limbs (hind distinctly larger than fore). Scalation is also fairly uniform with large head scales, granular scales dorsally on the neck and trunk, and enlarged abutting scales ventrally; a few genera (e.g., Algyroides, Ichnotropis, Takydromus) have large, often keeled dorsal scales. Lacertid scalation and body forms are similar to those of the teiids, although lacertids are usually smaller (Zug et al. 2001).

Darevskia is distinguished from Podarcis by alternating narrow and broad whorls of scales around tial and keeld scales on tibia and tail.