Zootoca vivipara – common lizard
Zootoca vivipara Jacquin 1787
Family: Lacertidae
The common or viviparous lizard is Ireland’s only native reptile. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats throughout Northern Ireland. Common lizards are only active during the day and hibernate from October to March.
In brief
- Found throughout Northern Ireland in suitable habitat
- Occurs in a variety of habitats, including heathland, bogland, coniferous forest, disused railway tracks, gardens, sand dunes and coastal cliffs
- Active from March to September/October
- Hibernates during the winter
- Listed as a UK Priority species
- Main threat to the population is habitat loss
Species description
The common lizard is 10-16cm long with short legs and a long tail. The body is covered in small scales. Colour varies from beige-brown to reddish-brown or green with a darker stripe running down the centre of the back and darker markings on the sides. The underside of the male is usually orangy/yellow with numerous black spots. The female’s belly is beige/yellow or green with few or no spots.
If a lizard is caught by the tail, the tail can break off and will continue to move. This confuses predators, allowing the lizard to escape. The lizard will grow a new tail, often shorter and blunter than the original.
Life cycle
Common lizards hibernate underground and emerge in the spring when the temperature starts to rise. Lizards cannot keep their body temperature constant. They are active only during the day because they need heat from the sun or their surroundings to raise their temperature so they can start actively moving. They eat spiders, small insects, worms, caterpillars and other invertebrates.
In colder climates, like Northern Ireland’s, common lizards do not lay eggs. Between 3 and 11 babies develop inside the mother’s body, each in an egg sac that ruptures at birth or shortly afterwards. They are born fully formed and must fend for themselves, as there is no parental care.
Similar species
The common lizard is often confused with the smooth newt, due to their similar body shape. The easiest way to distinguish the two species is to look at their feet. Newts have four rounded toes on their front feet – lizards have five toes, with sharp claws.
Newts have soft, moist skin, are usually found in cool, damp conditions and are slow moving on land. Lizards have scaly skin, are usually seen basking in the sun and will move very quickly if disturbed.
How to see this species
Lizards can be hard to spot, since they run and hide as soon as they are disturbed. The most likely places to see them are in coastal areas, boglands or mountains during the summer when they are basking in the sun. The Mourne Mountains and Murlough National Nature Reserve (both in County Down) the Antrim Plateau and the Sperrins County Tyrone/Londonderry are all good areas to catch a glimpse of this elusive reptile.
Current status
The common lizard occurs throughout Northern Ireland but population numbers are not known.
- Listed in Schedule 5, 6 and 7 of the Wildlife (N. Ireland) Order 1985
- Listed in Annex III of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)
Why is this species a priority in Northern Ireland?
- Listed as a UK Priority species
Threats/Causes of decline
The population of common lizards in Northern Ireland is likely to have declined in recent years, due to habitat loss. The conversion of lowland habitat to farmland has probably had the most impact on this species. The loss of upland heath and coastal dunes pose a continuing threat.
Conservation of this species
Current action
- None known
- In 2009, Quercus (Queens University Belfast) carried out a survey of the records of the common lizard in Northern Ireland from 1905–2009
- In 2007, the Irish Wildlife Trust carried out a national survey of the common lizard in Ireland
Proposed objectives/actions
- Maintain existing viable common lizard populations
- Expand existing viable common lizard populations
What you can do
To report common lizard sightings to CEDaR, Telephone 028 9039 5264 or email cedar.info@nmni.com
Further information
Common lizard UK priority species - JNCC
National survey of the Common lizard in Ireland 2007 - Irish Wildlife Trust
Literature
Text written by:
Angela Ross
iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database