42 WL

WILDLIFE information on the environment / eolas ar an gcomhshaol

www.enfo.ie

Common lizard (viviparous lizard)

Lacerta (Zootoca) should not disturbed or stressed are also the only reptiles found in for fear of possibly harming the Ireland and debate exists over vivipara unborn young. how these scaled vertebrates colonized the island. The most obvious route would see them Physical Description Worldwide distribution migrate via a land bridge from either England or further south Common lizards are usually The range of the Common Lizard in Europe. However, the identity between 10 and 16cm, long extends across central and of this founder population is not although they can grow to 18cm northern Europe (but does not known and details regarding the in length. They have long bodies, include the Mediterranean mechanism and time of short legs and a long, tapering region) and through to northern colonization have yet to be tail. They have coarse scales Asia. It is one of the most wide- determined. Currently there is a which range from grey, brown, ranging reptiles in the Northern large genetic database from bronze or green on the back, and Hemisphere. Surprisingly, they lizard populations in Europe, with males are generally darker than females. They have a series of white spots down the flanks, which fuse to form a line, and a black line along the back. Common lizards also have numerous black spots scattered over the body. These spots can be used to identify individual lizards by their pattern and distribution, Maloe (regemerated particularly near the posterior of tail) the animal.

Sexing the Common Lizard Femail (gravid) The underside of males is brightly coloured usually yellow or orange, but sometimes vermilion and densely covered in black spots. Females have a yellow, grey or greenish occasionally orange underside Fig 1: The Common Lizard, Lacerta vivipara. Pregnant (Gravid) females with few or no spots. Pregnant will be visibly fatter and will be seen basking a great deal on warm days. females are easy to spot due to Missing tails will regenerate, but are a different texture and colour from their bulky appearance and the rest of the body.

it’s easy | to make a difference WILDLIFE / Common Lizzard / WL 42

much work done by French On the menu of the day, when they are in scientists in particular, and a danger of overheating. After similar effort is expected in the Common lizards typically hunt cooling overnight, they need to near future regarding the Irish any small invertebrates they can increase their body temperature populations. This should lend catch and overpower, such as to somewhere in the region of 30 some insight into the insects, spiders, snails and degrees Celsius (86 degrees colonization time, and origin of earthworms. They stun their prey Fahrenheit) before they can hunt our native Irish species. by pouncing upon it and shaking effectively. Because they rely on it in their mouths, before the sun's heat to remain active swallowing it whole. (heliothermic), lizards are forced Where to look in Ireland to hibernate through the Irish winter. Another strategy Common Lizards are widely Behaviour practiced by Common lizards for distributed in throughout deriving heat from the Ireland. They have been recorded Reptiles, unlike birds and mammals, are ectotherms. That environment is thigmothermy, in a range of habitats, which where body heat is derived include woodland, marshes, means that they have no internal temperature regulation system. through contact with warm heathland, bogs, sand dunes, surfaces (rocks, logs etc.). hedgerows and even gardens. They rely on the characteristics Generally speaking, any place of their environment and on They disappear around October that offers a suitable basking their patterns of behaviour to and hibernate until the following spot (such as rocks, reflective control their internal March, often in groups, sand etc) and a quick escape temperature. When they are too occasionally emerging during route into cover is likely to be cold they bask in the sun, if they warmer spells. After coming out adequate for lizard occupation. get too warm they move into the of hibernation in spring male Common lizards exist in breeding shade. They also contain lizards establish a breeding pairs and generally protect an specialised blood vessel systems territory and defend it vigorously area of habitat that supports the (rete mirabile), which contain against other males. Breeding above criteria. In spring the veins carrying warm blood from takes place from March to May. males and females bask in the the skin crossing in close Common lizards are viviparous, open to absorb the heat from the proximity to cold-blooded which means that the young sun. Later in the summer it is arteries originating at the heart. develop within egg membranes usually only the pregnant In this way, heat is transferred inside the female's body. females that are seen to bask. across the mesh of blood vessels, They will often use a stone, log or conserving body heat. grass tussock close to cover for Lizards can typically be found Breeding & reproduction basking. If disturbed they often basking on sunny days in the After emerging from hibernation, return to their favourite spot morning or the afternoon, but the males defend breeding soon afterwards. not generally during the middle territories from other males. Courtship is a rather boisterous affair with the male grasping the female by the head in his jaws Farmland before mating with her several Other Bogs times. During the three-month Limestone Heath gestation period, the pregnant pavement female basks as much as possible Curtilage to encourage her eggs to develop Rural Gardens healthily. They may however Wetland remain inside the egg membrane for several days before breaking Golf Course out (using their heads rather Woodland Sand-dunes than an egg-tooth to rupture the membrane). In this way the Stone walls young break free from their eggs Roadside/Hedgerows whilst still inside their mother Grassland and emerge as free-living reptiles. This can be mistaken as Fig 2: Habitat preferences of the Common Lizard. Taken from 2004 a form of live birth, like that of Lizard Survey by the Irish Wildlife Trust (not published). These results placental mammals, but the are derived from a survey and are merely an indication of the type of young do indeed develop within habitat occupied by Common Lizards. eggs like other reptiles, but those EOLAS AR AN gCOMHSHAOL

eggs are simply contained within when on land. During the day of this elusive reptile. the mother. This is why the name they hide in thick grass and "viviparous" is sometimes used, under logs and will barely move Lizards and the law as it means bearing live young, if disturbed. A lizard will bask in As both our only native species of as opposed to laying eggs, and is the open during the warmer reptile, and an important part in thought to have arisen as an months and will move very the islands biodiversity, the adaptation to life in the colder quickly. In the colder months Common Lizard, lacerta vivipara, regions of Europe and Asia. This common lizards will also move is protected by Irish law against is supported by the observation slowly, but on closer examination harmful disturbance, harm or that Lacerta populations in they will be seen to be scaly as capture. These creatures are a warmer regions south of France opposed to having the soft beautiful part of our countryside do indeed lay eggs. Litters of 3-12 velvety or warty skin of newts. and can be observed freely by young are born from June to Lizards also have much longer any prospective lizard spotters, September, after which time the fingers and toes than newts. If however there can be no mother shows no parental care. you see an animal of this basic justification for killing, hurting or The young feed actively from body shape swimming in a pond, intentionally disturbing them. If birth and quickly disperse. Males it is most probably a newt. you do turn over a rock to find a become sexually mature around small, sluggish lizard below, 2 years and females around 3 please return it to its original years of age. Conservation status position so as not to alter the countryside in any way. Common lizards are widespread Predators and pets and not considered to be endangered. However, recent Any larger predators can eat studies of amphibian and reptile What can you do to help? lizards, but as they are active only populations in Britain and Currently, the Irish Wildlife Trust during the day, they rarely mainland Europe are suggesting (IWT) is running a nationwide encounter nocturnal threats like a decline in population density in survey that is calling for members foxes and badgers. They are recent years due to both natural of the public to send in a record taken by birds of prey (they and man-made threats. The of any sightings of the common typically form part of the status of the Common Lizard in lizard in Ireland. If you have seen kestrel's diet), and stoats and Ireland is unknown at present a lizard in the past and wish to mink will kill them whenever with only a handful of research help, then there is a copy of the possible. Domestic cats pose a efforts having taken place since IWT record form on the back of real problem for lizards, the 1980’s. Nationwide surveys this article. Send in completed especially early in the day before by the general public in the early record sheets to the IWT at: they reach full operating 1990’s, and more recently in 2004 Sigmund Business Centre, 93A temperature. When they are cold until present, are painting a Lagan Road, Dublin Industrial the reptiles are sluggish and are rather skewed picture of Irelands Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11. You easy prey for an inquisitive feline. lizard distribution due to a large can also download the survey response from hikers and wildlife To redress the balance somewhat sheet and information from the enthusiasts who are more likely lizards have an intriguing escape IWT web site (see references). to encounter and report mechanism that allows them to sightings. This apparent bias is evade predators. If caught by the pushing the known distribution tail, lizards have the ability to References of the common lizard into scenic shed the lower portion, leaving a areas that are popular and easily The Irish Wildlife Trust Lizard bemused predator with a accessible to the public. Project twitching stump while the lizard Website: makes good its escape. If it More scientific research is http://www.iwt.ie/lizards1.php survives the encounter the lizard required to determine the state will soon grow a new tail. of our only reptile and to Mailing address for completed establish whether specific sighting forms: conservation efforts are required Sigmund Business Centre, What else could it be? to maintain a healthy Irish 93A Lagan Road, Dublin population. Interest has risen in Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Sometimes the common lizards recent years at the prospect of Dublin 11 could possibly be confused with studying the species and there our only native newt species, the are suggestions in the last smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris. section on how you, the public, Newts are amphibians and are can contribute to our knowledge always slow moving creatures

it’s easy | to make a difference WILDLIFE / Common Lizzard / WL 42

Further Reading JNCC (1995) A Framework for the Laloi et al (2004). Multiple Conservation of Amphibians and paternity in Lacerta vivipara. Marnell, F. The distribution and Reptiles in the UK: 1994 - 1999. Herpetological Review. 35 (3): 219. habitat of the common lizard, JNCC, Peterborough. Lacerta vivipara Jacquin, in ARKive - Images of life on Earth. Ireland. pp 75-82. Irish Cambell, N. Biology, 4th ed. pp. http://www.arkive.org/species/A Biogeographical Society. Volume 643-46 (general reptiles) & pp. RK/reptiles/Lacerta_vivipara/ 26, Dec 2002. 902-3 (thermoregulation). Benjamin/Cummings Publishing. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Foster, J. & Gent, T. Reptile survey UK (RAUK) Methods: proceedings of a Corn, P.S. & Bury, B.R. (1990) http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/ seminar held on 7 November 1995 Sampling methods for terrestrial common_lizard.htm at the Zoological Society of amphibians and reptiles.U.S.Dept London’s meeting rooms, Regents of Agriculture, General Technical Park, London. English Nature Report. Text prepared by Michael Curran and Sean Fagan, two recent Science, No. 27 (can be found at BBC – Science & Nature http://www.english- Wildfacts: The Common Lizard science graduates of University College Dublin who are currently nature.org.uk) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wil working with University College dfacts/factfiles/282.shtml English Nature (1999): Facts Dublin and the Irish Wildlife Trust about Reptiles. English Nature, respectively on a new project into Peterborough. the distribution of Lacerta vivipara in Ireland. They may be contacted at [email protected] by anyone with questions, sightings or local information from anywhere in Ireland on the Common Lizard.

Issued by: ENFO – The Environmental Information Service, 17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: (01) 8883910 Locall: 1890 200191 Fax: (01) 888 3946 e-mail: [email protected] www.enfo.ie Write to or visit our Centre at the above address or you may check out the ENFO information stands at your Local Authority Office / County Library

ENFO is a service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Printed on recycled paper by Print & Promotions Tel: 087 2567205 May 2005