Common lizard

Zootoca vivipara

AKA: Viviparous lizard

The common lizard measures around 15 cm in length including tail. It is variable in colour, but is usually brownish-grey (but can show yellow, green and black coloration too), often with rows of darker spots or stripes down the back and sides. Males have bright yellow or orange undersides with black spots, while females have paler, unspotted bellies. Males have larger heads and slimmer bodies than the females, and show a prominent thickening or swelling at the base of the tail. Common lizards have scaly skin causing a beaded texture and appearance. They can move very quickly when disturbed.

Common lizards hibernate through the winter months between November and March. They emerge in early spring and mating occurs in April. The females incubate the eggs inside themselves and give birth to 3-11 live young (as opposed to laying eggs like other lizards) in July/August. For this reason, common lizards are also known as viviparous lizards. Newborn lizards are usually very dark almost black in colour, and are tiny at less than 5cm long.

What they eat

Common lizards consume worms, slugs, spiders, and insects such as flies and grasshoppers.

Where and when to see them

They can be seen from early spring (March/April), and are active until they hibernate in winter.
Common lizards occur in a variety of habitats, especially dry, open areas such as open woodland, abandoned and derelict land, larger gardens, and heathland.
Keep very still, as they are easily spooked and are quick to hide.

View a Common lizard 10km distribution map of Wales

Legal status

Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Similar species

Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)

This lizard is very rare in the UK and only naturally occurs in a few isolated areas in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Merseyside. It has been reintroduced into other areas in the South East, South West and north & west Wales. They favour sand dune and heathland habitats. Sand lizards are larger, broader and stockier than common lizards. They also have a stubbier snout. Females are a sandy-brown colour, with rows of dark blotches along the back; males have green flanks that are very bright during the breeding season in April and May. These lizards lay eggs rather than bearing live young. They are very unlikely to be seen in the Gwent Levels area.

Wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

These are non-native wall lizard species which have been introduced to areas of southern England. Wall lizards tend to be larger and more brightly coloured than the common lizard. They are also very agile and climb walls whereas common lizards rarely climb vertical walls. They are very unlikely to be seen in the Gwent Levels area.

Newts

Newts can be mistaken for lizards when they are out of water. Newts do not have scaly skin, and have only four front toes, whereas lizards have five. A lizard is unlikely to allow you to pick it up, unlike newts which are much more able to be handled.

Did you know?

A common lizard can drop its tail if caught by a predator. They leave a wriggling tail to distract the predator while the rest of the lizard makes a hasty escape. This behaviour is known as autotomy.