Common Lizard

Name: Common Lizard

Scientific name: Lacerta vivipara

Category: Reptiles

Nature Stars: 30

What are nature stars?

About: The Common Lizard is our commonest and most widespread reptile. About 10 to 15cm long, usually brownish-grey in colour, often with rows of darker markings down the back and down the sides. Common Lizards like heathland, moorland, tussocky grassland and woodland edges, anywhere they can find invertebrates to eat and a sunny patch in which to sunbathe. They hibernate, usually from October to April.

How to identify: The only typical lizard across most of the country.

Where: Widespread, found throughout the country, except for most Scottish islands, the Isles of Scilly and the Channel Islands. The only reptile native to Ireland.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 80
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 40

Fantastic fact: If attached by a predatory, a lizard will often run away, leaving its wriggling tail behind!

Photograph credit: David Longshaw