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Some Lizard Lovin'
- Madeleine H
- Apr 4, 2020
- 4 min read
As things begin to get warmer, some familiar faces start to make a reappearance like this common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). As its name suggests, this species is the UK's most common and widely distributed reptile. It is also the only reptile native to Ireland. a viviparaZootoca vivi
Where to Find a Common Lizard
The common lizard can be found living in heathland, moorland, woodland, and grassland habitats, as well as dry stone walls, embankments and sea cliffs. If you're lucky you may even find them in your garden basking in the sun! If you walk slowly, scanning the margins between footpaths and vegetation, you may be lucky enough to spot these timid sun-loving reptiles. The common lizard frequently basks in brash piles, low logs and open grassy areas. You often will hear the rustle of them darting for cover before you see them, but be patient and wait quietly, as lizards frequent the same basking places.
Identifying a Common Lizard
The common lizard typically grows to 15cm from nose to tail. Colouration can vary, but often they are brownish-grey with rows of dark spots or stripes along their backs and sides. Males can be identified by their bright yellow or orange bellies covered in dark markings, whilst females have paler undersides.
Newts are commonly mistaken for lizards when found on land, however they can be identified by looking at their skin. Lizards have scaly skin, unlike newts, which have smooth permeable skin. Additionally, lizards move very fast when disturbed, unlike the newt.
Common Lizard Diet
The common lizard typically predates upon worms, slugs and insects, so they are a great assest to your garden, helping to maintain an ecological equalibrium!
Common Lizard Lifecycle
Common lizards mate during the spring, typically between April and May. Female common lizards do not lay eggs like other lizard species, but instead are viviparous, meaning females bear live young which develop internally. Because of this trait, the common lizard is frequently referred to as the "viviparous lizard". Females often produce 3 to 11 young, which are born in July.
Common Lizards and Hibernation
Common lizards are ectothermic meaning they are dependent on external sources, like the sun, to regulate their body temperature. During colder months, the common lizard hibernates beneath rocks. They typically hibernate between October and March, and re-emerge during the spring.
Threats and Conservation
Despite its widespread distribution across the UK, common lizard populations are declining due to habitat loss. Nevertheless, some legislation is in place to help protect and conserve this beautiful species. The common lizard is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning it is an offence to deliberately sell, trade, injure or kill a common lizard. In Northern Ireland, the species is fully protected against killing, injuring, capturing, disturbing, possessing or trading a common lizard. The common lizard is also listed as a priority species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
There are many incredible conservation organisations in the UK working towards the preservation of the common lizard, such as the Wildlife Trust, who are collaborating with farmers, landowners and planners guarantee that UK wildlife is protected and aim to promote eco-friendly behaviours. You can help by volunteering and supporting organisations like the Wildlife Trust, Frog Life and ARC Trust. If you have a garden, you can further help by not using garden chemicals, such as slug repellents and garden pesticides, as these kill the common lizards favourite foods. Common lizards and other amazing British wildlife, such as frogs, toads, and slow worms, can help control the numbers of slugs and insects in your garden with their ferocious appetites, so you don't need to spend your money of expensive harmful chemicals anymore. Just befriend your local common lizard!
Fun Facts About The Common Lizard
Did you know, like a lot of lizard species, the common lizard drops its tail when attacked. This defensive mechanism helps the lizard escape a predator. Even once the tail is dropped it keeps moving. This distracts the predator and allows the lizard to escape. The tail is dropped at a certain point on the tail known as a fracture plane. When the lizard is stressed, the muscles pull apart, known as a reflex muscle spasm, which causes the tail to be dropped. This does not cause the lizard any pain, and the lizard tail autotomy has evolved so that no blood is lost when the tail is dropped. The tail takes 6 months to a year to regrow. The skeleton of the regrown tail is made of cartilage, and is often shorter in length. The new tail also has a different colouration to the rest of the lizard. Despite this being a cool behaviour to witness, we do not encourage you to deliberately cause a lizard to drop its tail as it causes the animal stress and regrowing a tail is energetically costly.
Check out this article by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. It tells how you can make your garden perfect for reptiles, like the common lizard https://www.arc-trust.org/helping-reptiles.
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