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Ireland's Wildlife

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You are here: Home / Species Profiles / Reptiles / Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara)

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara)

May 11, 2011 by Calvin Jones 48 Comments

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara)The common lizard, Ireland’s only reptile, can often be seen sunning itself on dry stone walls, rocks or logs during the summer months. These animals occupy a range of habitats, including woodland, marshes, heath, moors, bogs, sand-dunes and even rubbish dumps.

Lizards are active, alert and extremely quick. Their colouration helps them to blend with their surroundings, and they can disappear into a crevice or under a stone with startling speed at the first sign of disturbance.

Common lizards are usually between 10cm and 16cm (4 inches and 6 inches) long, although larger specimens can reach 18cm (7 inches). They have long bodies, short legs and a long, tapering tail. The coarse, dry scales on the lizard’s back can be a variety of colours including grey, brown, copper or green, with a black stripe running down the centre of the back, and a scattering of black spots over the body. Male lizards have orange-yellow bellies with black spots, while females have creamy white bellies usually without spots.

Reptiles, unlike birds and mammals, have no internal temperature regulation system. They rely on the characteristics of their environment and on their patterns of behaviour to control their internal temperature. When they are too cold they bask in the sun, if they get too warm they move into the shade.

Lizards can typically be found basking on sunny days in the morning or the afternoon, but not generally during the middle of the day, when they are in danger of overheating. After cooling overnight, a lizard needs to increase its body temperature to somewhere in the region of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) before it can hunt effectively. They eat insects, spiders, slugs, snails and earthworms: pouncing on their prey and stunning it by shaking before swallowing it whole.

Because they rely on the sun’s heat to remain active, lizards are forced to hibernate through the Irish winter. They disappear around October and hibernate until the following March, often in groups, occasionally emerging during warmer spells.

After coming out of hibernation in spring male lizards establish a breeding territory and defend it vigorously against other males. Breeding takes place from March to May. Common lizards are viviparous, which means that the young develop within egg membranes inside the female’s body.

After about three months the female lizard will give birth to live, fully developed young that break free of the egg-membranes usually during birth or a few seconds afterwards. Litters consist of 2-12 young born from June to September. Females show no parental care: the young feed actively from birth and quickly disperse.

Lizards can be eaten by larger predators, but as they are active only during the day they rarely encounter nocturnal threats like foxes and badgers. They are taken by birds of prey (they typically form part of the kestrel’s diet), and stoats and mink will kill them if they can catch them. Domestic cats pose a real problem for lizards, especially early in the day before they reach full operating temperature. When they are cold the reptiles are sluggish and are easy prey for an inquisitive feline.

To redress the balance somewhat lizards have an intriguing escape mechanism that allows them to evade predators. If caught by the tail, lizards have the ability to shed the lower portion, leaving a bemused predator with a twitching stump while the lizard makes good its escape. If it survives the encounter the lizard will soon grow a new tail.

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Filed Under: Reptiles Tagged With: common lizard

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About Calvin Jones

Calvin Jones is a freelance writer, author, birder and lifelong wildlife enthusiast. He is founder and editor of IrelandsWildlife.com and founder and wildlife guide of Ireland's Wildlife Tours offering wildlife and birding holidays on Ireland's south coast.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarMichael Devlin says

    March 13, 2016 at 02:51

    I just saw two lizards in my garden laying under an outside light this evening around 10pm, I live in the divis mountain area of Belfast

    Reply
    • AvatarJames Matthews says

      February 17, 2017 at 03:11

      I live in south Florida, USA. It’s like Jurassic Park here. Wish I could see an Irish lizard though.

      Reply
  2. AvatarEmily Fitzgerald says

    March 21, 2016 at 14:10

    Found 1 lizard inside the house yesterday about 4pm, all curled up in a corner. Ardfield in West Cork.

    Reply
    • AvatarSandramarie says

      October 18, 2017 at 23:12

      Emily you are a stone throw from me at the Galley Head, ,,my cat is always catching these and bringing them In the house,,,lol

      Reply
  3. AvatarRa says

    May 20, 2016 at 11:11

    Lizard spotted in Ennis, Clare

    Reply
  4. AvatarBet o Mahony says

    July 19, 2016 at 00:01

    Lizard strolled into our house today at lunch time. My 11 year son Dara well impressed. Iv never seen one before and im living on this area a long time. Ballyheigue co. kerry.

    Reply
  5. AvatarGerry mahon says

    July 23, 2016 at 16:04

    Found a male lizard today under timber logs I’m splitting up.he played dead as its not cold its actually very warm.going to show him to my grand child then let him out in a safe spot.Oldcastle co Meath.

    Reply
  6. AvatarJohanna Dunn says

    August 3, 2016 at 16:19

    We found one today in our glass house. He was lovely! Orange belly, very docile. We live in south Leitrim

    Reply
  7. AvatarM Coy says

    August 16, 2016 at 17:53

    Lizard came into our bathroom hidden in the mop today in Athlone first time to see one in this area

    Reply
  8. AvatarJosé says

    August 16, 2016 at 23:15

    I let the dog out this evening in the dark with a torch, spotted a tiny baby lizzard on a concrete edge of our shed. Very cute! I have been living here for 20 years, first time spotting one. This is in Roundwood, co Wicklow. Will be looking out for adult ones.

    Reply
  9. Avatardarren says

    September 18, 2016 at 11:10

    any where near bangor can they be found

    Reply
    • AvatarCalvin Jones says

      September 21, 2016 at 09:55

      Quite probably Darren, although I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you where. It’s a fair old trek from the West Cork coast ;-).

      Ask around locally — I’m sure someone who’s into their wildlife will be able to give you a few pointers.

      Reply
  10. Avatarbloggingfromthebog says

    September 18, 2016 at 22:07

    A lizard came into our house but it was black, not light colored like in the photo. Lisheen, Kilkee, Co. Clare.

    Reply
  11. AvatarOliver Tully says

    October 2, 2016 at 22:01

    Hi just found a lizard tonight on the road in Four Mile House Roscommon, I show it to my kids the wanted to take it to school tomorrow!

    Reply
  12. AvatarClaire says

    October 3, 2016 at 09:19

    Had one this morning in the house…..Co mayo. Never seen one before anywhere!!

    Reply
  13. AvatarMPOC says

    October 16, 2016 at 22:15

    Just had my first ever sighting of a lizard in Limerick today (previously saw one in W Cork). It was in walking across my kitchen floor. Dog sniffed it and left it alone but he looked like it was dying. Put it outside.

    Reply
  14. AvatarShereen Sutton says

    February 19, 2017 at 08:39

    Saw a small black lizard last night. He was in an outside porch under the light. Cahore, Co. Wexford.

    Reply
  15. AvatarPatsy Moriarty says

    April 6, 2017 at 22:28

    Seen one today while out hiking on the Wicklow mountains.patsy

    Reply
  16. AvatarKim says

    April 22, 2017 at 15:01

    Constantly finding them here in south Leitrim around our house (an old school that was abandoned for years) at least one every few months, sometimes two or tree together. but is there any chance that in good weather they would become non-viviparous? as on one occasion I found some tiny eggs under a woodpile, they were too small to be any bird but way to big to be any kind of insect egg… well I wouldn’t want to see the insect that could lay these things! It was a few years ago now and we had had a good warm, dry, summer.

    Reply
    • AvatarWill says

      July 4, 2017 at 09:37

      Kim, they could possibly be snail eggs – Groups of small round white eggs usually underground but also under rocks and logs etc.

      Reply
    • AvatarCalvin Jones says

      July 4, 2017 at 11:16

      Hi Kim,

      Giving birth to live young is an adaptation to survive in a cooler climate… and while common lizards / viviparous lizards do lay eggs in the extreme south of their range (southern Europe), do lay eggs Irish lizards never do.

      Such an extreme physiological shift is something that’s likely to have evolved over a very long period of time — rather than a direct response to short-term environmental change (a hot summer for example), so I doubt very much that your lizards in south Leitrim are laying eggs.

      Will mentioned snail eggs, but they’d be far too small to ever confuse with lizard eggs. Which begs the question what are they?

      Do you have a photograph?

      Reply
  17. AvatarCilla says

    May 2, 2017 at 18:24

    Hi my cat caught a magnificent lizard today I was shocked never knew they existed in Ireland. It was deep green and it was missing end of tail probably because of the cat. We released it back hope it survives. (Galway)

    Reply
  18. Avatarpeadar says

    May 25, 2017 at 19:16

    Just picked one off the road in Spanish point green with black tail

    Reply
  19. AvatarEileen says

    June 14, 2017 at 15:56

    Found a small lizard under my rabbits water dish we took photos before returning it to the wild kids disappointed they couldn’t bring it in to school I’m sure the teacher would have been impressed

    Reply
  20. AvatarSimon says

    July 12, 2017 at 22:33

    Hiking in Wicklow Mountains (Big Sugarloaf) saw one in midday sun hidden in the gorse. Speedy fellow!

    Reply
  21. AvatarJim says

    July 17, 2017 at 12:25

    Sunny day in Killasser co Mayo just seen a common lizard run in the door had the same thing 2 years ago

    Reply
  22. AvatarEmmett says

    August 7, 2017 at 17:34

    Seen one Horn Head, Co Donegal

    Reply
  23. AvatarMalachy Mangan says

    August 7, 2017 at 17:48

    Lizard strolling near the back door of our house in Daingean Offaly today. Little beauty.

    Reply
  24. AvatarKim farrell says

    September 18, 2017 at 00:17

    SUNDAY @ 11:30PM ONE OF MY CATS HAVE BROUGHT IN A YOUNG LIZARD INTO MY KITCHEN.VERY SMALL,LENGTH OF MY THUMB.GOING TO SHOW MY NEPHEW NEXT DOOR IN THE MORNING.

    Reply
  25. AvatarRobert says

    September 20, 2017 at 21:25

    Just saw one laying on the path in kill co. Kildare at 8:30PM, barely moving,placed it in the grass and it started to move

    Reply
  26. AvatarSiobhan Dwyer says

    September 21, 2017 at 09:45

    We found a common lizard at the weekend actually thought it was a toy as we didn’t know any existed in Ireland. We live in Durrow, Co.Laois

    Reply
  27. AvatarMichelle McMahon says

    September 27, 2017 at 22:50

    I opened the back door to let the dog out at 22.45 and there was a common lizard. I had never seen one before and called my husband to take a look. We also called our 9 year old son who was really excited about seeing one. We live in Crusheen Co Clare on the edge of the Burren.

    Reply
  28. AvatarDónall Ó Flatharta says

    December 25, 2017 at 00:20

    Came home to Balla Co. Mayo and spotted a lizard parked at back door step as the drizzle came down. Night very mild but it may be “sunning” itself under sensor light. Got very close and not a movement from it, moved to different part of step when I went back shortly afterwards.

    Reply
  29. AvatarJason O Callaghan says

    March 31, 2018 at 20:11

    Happened across one today in Moore Hall, Co. Mayo. Delighted to see it.
    Jason

    Reply
  30. AvatarRobert says

    April 18, 2018 at 21:34

    Just saw another one tonight a bit down from the last sighting last September ,lying on the path again,in kill co. Kildare

    Reply
  31. AvatarRichard Reid says

    May 13, 2018 at 19:06

    Just found 3 in the garden under some old timber, third time to see them in the garden in the past five years, I’m near Athboy Co.Meath.

    Reply
  32. AvatarBarry Spellman says

    July 1, 2018 at 08:19

    We had a large lizard run across some concrete steps in our back garden yesterday much to the bemusement of our Jack Russell. I have been living here 48 years and never seen one. We live in Delgany, Co. Wicklow

    Reply
  33. AvatarSean Murphy says

    July 3, 2018 at 11:23

    Found one just inside the back door of our house yesterday, very warm out so might have been cooling down, have seen them in bogs before but never by our house.
    Sean
    Co Kerry

    Reply
  34. AvatarIan Taylor says

    July 4, 2018 at 15:14

    Is it ok to keep one as a pet in the right environment?

    Reply
    • AvatarCalvin Jones says

      July 4, 2018 at 19:16

      No Ian, it is illegal to keep any native wild animal in captivity without a special license to do so from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

      Reply
  35. AvatarSonia Kingston says

    July 6, 2018 at 15:26

    Hi, Just saw a lizard in one room downstairs of my house around 3pm, my child and I panicked as we didn’t know they did live in Ireland. I have a picture. We catch it but now we need to know where is the best place to let it go as we have a cat.

    Reply
  36. AvatarDAVID MULLIGAN says

    July 23, 2018 at 19:01

    lots of large green and black lizards 7 inches or so out the front of the PointBbar Magilligan Co.Derry

    Reply
  37. Avatartreaclebob says

    August 20, 2018 at 23:01

    Saw one years ago in the garden of our house between Ardara and Glencolmcille in West Donegal. I thought he must have arrived here in a tourist’s suitcase lol as I believed (obviously erroneously!) that there were no reptiles in Ireland.

    Reply
  38. AvatarJosie says

    August 25, 2018 at 15:44

    We found a baby viviporous female lizard at the back of our house today. my son decided to release it. hope it will be ok.

    Reply
  39. AvatarBrian says

    April 18, 2019 at 13:10

    We have these lizards reguarly from spring to summer near Plumbridge, county Tyrone. Usally younger lizards when the cat has dragged it out and the tails are off. I’ve set up 4 flat stones around the garden to bask in, with rockeries around them that the cats cant reach into. I hope this reduces the attacks.

    Reply
  40. AvatarFrank says

    August 31, 2019 at 03:20

    Menlough, Co Galway. 31 August 2019. 1.30am. Lizard allowed me to take 20+ photos in pouring rain. Very docile. First found in a saucer of rainfall under a flowerpot. Approx 8cm in length. Skin was almost smooth with a yellowish line along back from neck to tail. Not like the above picture. Maybe I found a young lizard.
    I really never knew Ireland had lizards and was shocked and excited to capture photos to keep.

    Reply
    • AvatarCalvin Jones says

      September 2, 2019 at 11:10

      Wet and smooth sounds like you may have found a smooth newt (our only newt species, and an amphibian, not a reptile) rather than a lizard :-).

      Reply

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