Common Lizard
The Common Lizard ranges across central and northern Europe (but are absent from the Mediterranean area) and through to northern Asia. It is the most common lizard in northern regions and the only reptile found in Ireland.
The Common Lizard has a long body and short legs. It has coarse scales which range from grey, brown, bronze or green on the back and males are generally darker than females. It has a series of white spots down the flanks, which fuse to form a line, and a black line along the back. The Common Lizard also has numerous black spots scattered over the body. Males have orange/yellow bellies with black spots and females have cream/white bellies.
The Common Lizard is found in a range of habitats including woodland, marshes, heathland, moors, sand dunes, hedgerows, bogs and rubbish dumps and it hunts insects, spiders, snails and earthworms, stunning its prey by shaking it and then swallowing it whole.
The Common Lizard is active during the day and spends the morning and afternoon (but not the intense heat of midday) basking in the sun either alone or in groups. It is a good swimmer and will dive underwater when threatened. At night, and when startled, it will shelter beneath logs, stones and metal sheets.
After emerging from hibernation, males defend breeding territories from other males. The young develop over 3 months within egg membranes inside the female's body which they usually break out of as she gives birth. Litters of 3 to 12 young are born from June to September after which time the mother shows no parental care with the young feeding actively from birth and quickly dispersing.
The Common Lizard hibernates from October to March. It will often hibernate in groups and sometimes emerge for a brief time during warm spells.
Date: 8th May 2022
Location: MWT Cors Dyfi, Powys
The Common Lizard has a long body and short legs. It has coarse scales which range from grey, brown, bronze or green on the back and males are generally darker than females. It has a series of white spots down the flanks, which fuse to form a line, and a black line along the back. The Common Lizard also has numerous black spots scattered over the body. Males have orange/yellow bellies with black spots and females have cream/white bellies.
The Common Lizard is found in a range of habitats including woodland, marshes, heathland, moors, sand dunes, hedgerows, bogs and rubbish dumps and it hunts insects, spiders, snails and earthworms, stunning its prey by shaking it and then swallowing it whole.
The Common Lizard is active during the day and spends the morning and afternoon (but not the intense heat of midday) basking in the sun either alone or in groups. It is a good swimmer and will dive underwater when threatened. At night, and when startled, it will shelter beneath logs, stones and metal sheets.
After emerging from hibernation, males defend breeding territories from other males. The young develop over 3 months within egg membranes inside the female's body which they usually break out of as she gives birth. Litters of 3 to 12 young are born from June to September after which time the mother shows no parental care with the young feeding actively from birth and quickly dispersing.
The Common Lizard hibernates from October to March. It will often hibernate in groups and sometimes emerge for a brief time during warm spells.
Date: 8th May 2022
Location: MWT Cors Dyfi, Powys
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