European green lizard
Encyclopedia
The European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) is a large lizard
distributed across mid European latitudes from the north of the Iberian peninsula
to as far east as Ukraine
. It is often to be seen sunning itself on rocks or lawns, or sheltering amongst bushes.
. The tail can be up to twice the length of the body. This lizard sheds its tail (autotomy
), to evade the grasp of a predator.
Males have a larger head and a uniform green colouring punctuated with small spots that are more pronounced upon its back. The throat is bluish in the adult males and to a lesser extent in the females.
The female is more slender than the male and has a more uniform coloration, often displaying between two and four light bands bordered by black spots.
It feeds on insects, small lizards and even mice. In springtime the female lays 6 to 20 eggs. About 2 to 3 months later brown-coloured young appear with a length of 3-4 cm.
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
distributed across mid European latitudes from the north of the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
to as far east as Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. It is often to be seen sunning itself on rocks or lawns, or sheltering amongst bushes.
Description
The lizard reaches up to 13 cm (approximately 5 inches) in length from the tip of the muzzle to the cloacaCloaca
In zoological anatomy, a cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, reproductive, and urinary tracts of certain animal species...
. The tail can be up to twice the length of the body. This lizard sheds its tail (autotomy
Autotomy
Autotomy or self amputation is the act whereby an animal severs one or more of its own appendages, usually as a self-defense mechanism designed to elude a predator's grasp...
), to evade the grasp of a predator.
Males have a larger head and a uniform green colouring punctuated with small spots that are more pronounced upon its back. The throat is bluish in the adult males and to a lesser extent in the females.
It feeds on insects, small lizards and even mice. In springtime the female lays 6 to 20 eggs. About 2 to 3 months later brown-coloured young appear with a length of 3-4 cm.