Common Lizard

Description:

The viviparous lizard or common lizard (Zootoca vivipara, formerly Lacerta vivipara) is a Eurasian lizard. It lives farther north than any other reptile species, and most populations are viviparous (giving birth to live young), rather than laying eggs as most other lizards do. The length of the body is less than 12 centimetres (5 in) (excluding the tail). The tail is 1.25 to 2 times longer than the body, although it is often partially or wholly lost. The limbs are short, and the head is rather round. Males have more slender bodies than females. The neck and the tail are thick. The collar and other scales seem jagged. The colour and patterning of this species is remarkably variable. The main colour is typically mid-brown, but it can be also grey, olive brown or black. Females may have dark stripes on their flanks and down the middle of the back. Sometimes females also have light-coloured stripes, or dark and light spots along the sides of the back. Most males and some females have dark spots in their undersides. Males have brightly coloured undersides – typically yellow or orange, but more rarely red. Females have paler, whitish underparts. The throat is white, sometimes blue. (Wiki)

Habitat:

The viviparous lizard is widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia. Its range extends to the north of the Arctic Circle. It ranges from Ireland to Hokkaidō and Sakhalin. It is absent from most of the Mediterranean area, although it occurs in northern Spain, northern Italy, Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria. It is also absent from the area surrounding the Black Sea. Melanistic specimen are quite typical for the Großer Feldberg/Taunus mountain in Germany In the southern parts of its distribution range the species lives at high elevations, occurring as high as 3,000 metres in the Alps. In these areas the viviparous lizard lives in damp places or near water, including meadows, swamps, rice fields, by brooks and in damp forests. In the northern part of the range the species is also found in lowlands, where it occurs in drier environments, including open woodland, meadows, moorland, heathland, fens, dunes, rocks, roadsides, hedgerows and gardens. It lives mainly on the ground, although it may climb onto rocks, logs and low-growing vegetation. (Wiki)