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Common or Viviparous Lizard - Lacerta vivipara / Zootoca vivipara – Native to the UK.
Length 10 to 15 Cm
Common Lizards are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to kill, harm or injure them; sell or trade them in any way.
Common Lizards are widely distributed in the UK.
Habitat…Gardens, heathlands, wooded glades, wastelands, open meadows near banks, ditches and along hedgerows. In spring the Common Lizard will find sunny areas to absorb the heat from the sun to recharge their energy for finding food, which common lizards will generally do once when their body temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius. Their diet includes invertebrates such as earthworms, insects and snails, which they shake in their mouths to stun, before swallowing whole. Once nicely fed, around April, a lizard’s thoughts will turn to breeding. The female store the fertilized eggs in their bodies until almost fully developed, when the young are released in the egg sac, which usually bursts during the birthing process. Such unusual behaviour has led to the Common lizard also being referred to as the Viviparous lizard, which means bearing live young. The young themselves are distinctly darker than their parents, and are around 4cm long.
Later in the summer it is usually only the pregnant females that are seen to bask. They will find a favourite stone or log for basking. If disturbed they often return to their favourite spot soon afterwards.
Males have a bright yellow, speckled belly, whilst the female’s is paler and unblemished.
Lizards are cold-blooded creatures and hibernate between October and March climbing into cracks between rocks and stones.
like most native British wildlife, the Common lizard although widespread is declining in numbers due to a loss of wild spaces, with the building of more houses. However, the species is protected by law, and isn’t listed as endangered yet.
Read MoreLength 10 to 15 Cm
Common Lizards are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to kill, harm or injure them; sell or trade them in any way.
Common Lizards are widely distributed in the UK.
Habitat…Gardens, heathlands, wooded glades, wastelands, open meadows near banks, ditches and along hedgerows. In spring the Common Lizard will find sunny areas to absorb the heat from the sun to recharge their energy for finding food, which common lizards will generally do once when their body temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius. Their diet includes invertebrates such as earthworms, insects and snails, which they shake in their mouths to stun, before swallowing whole. Once nicely fed, around April, a lizard’s thoughts will turn to breeding. The female store the fertilized eggs in their bodies until almost fully developed, when the young are released in the egg sac, which usually bursts during the birthing process. Such unusual behaviour has led to the Common lizard also being referred to as the Viviparous lizard, which means bearing live young. The young themselves are distinctly darker than their parents, and are around 4cm long.
Later in the summer it is usually only the pregnant females that are seen to bask. They will find a favourite stone or log for basking. If disturbed they often return to their favourite spot soon afterwards.
Males have a bright yellow, speckled belly, whilst the female’s is paler and unblemished.
Lizards are cold-blooded creatures and hibernate between October and March climbing into cracks between rocks and stones.
like most native British wildlife, the Common lizard although widespread is declining in numbers due to a loss of wild spaces, with the building of more houses. However, the species is protected by law, and isn’t listed as endangered yet.
