RAUK - Archived Forum - Common Lizard Identification

A description and images of the Common or Viviparous Lizard Lacerta vivipara/Zootoca vivipara may be found at:

http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/common_lizard.htm

® Gemma Fairchild

Common Lizard Distribution

Please add your Common Lizard sightings below so they may be added to the above table and the RAUK distribution map.

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http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/Forum Policies.htm

Those taxonomists are at it again.

Just getting used to 'Zootoca' when just read that this may not be valid.

Quote;

"The phylogenetic position of this taxa is not well supported, with contradictory evidence from mtDNA and morphological characters ( Arnold, 1989);Fu,2000). Neverthless.a;; of these analyses inferred that Z.vivipara was an internal branch within the paraphletic Lacerta, and therefore its recognition as a full genus  does not alter the paraphyl of Lacerta."

Ref

Harris, D.J., Carretero, M.A. (2003). Comments on the taxonomic value of  (sub) genera within the family Lacertidae (Reptilia)

Amphibia-Reptilia 24: 119-122

Tony

Hi Wolfgang,

Just to be nosey, when you say BIX did you see them at the Warburg Reserve?  I did herp survey there for a year in 1998/9.  Fantastic place not just for reptiles, but birds, orchids, butterflies etc.

Matthew

I have just been browsing around looking for info on the distribution of the common lizard and happened on this bb. I live in Cardiff and in my childhood and teens, back in the '60s, common lizards were indeed common around here on railway banks on roadside verges and hedgebanks, in allotments and in woodland clearings. They have been vanishing at a very alarming rate and I currently only know 2 sites where you might spot one or 2 on a good day. Other places in Wales where they were once common seem to tell the same sorry tale. I remember they were once to be seen all around Tenby but not any more!

Personally, I think that the vast number of cats have helped this sad decline but this cannot be the case in more rural areas. 

Places where I would be able to see many lizards on a sunny day about 20-30 years ago I now see none. The slow-worm, however, seems to be holding its own in these places so whatever has killed the lizards hasn't killed them.

Was this via the cat?  release in nearest suitable cat free habitat.

Tony

Hi Trish,

If it is just plain orange (no spots) then its female. But see Dave Birds posting (photos) of underside of Comm Liz from a while back .

Tony Phelps

Hi Tony,

It has no spots, just plain orange so I guess it's female.  I'm now really interested in lizards - I have always liked snakes but my husband doesn't so maybe lizards are the way to go!  I will look at Dave Bird's photo's. Thankyou!!

Hi Trish,

Yeah lizards are fantastic creatures, but so are snakes, your fella does not know what he is missing - talk to him nice.

Tony

Hi Tony,

We let the lizard go free, and are now the proud owners of a Leopard Gecko, about 6 weeks old.  Our 2 sons have named her Lizzie.  I think we may get her a friend!

Hi Trish,

Congratulations on the new arrival! My son had a pair of leopard geckos , so if you need any tips just fire away.

Carefull on feeding mealworms , as they find them hard to break down and will regurge.

Good luck with her,

Alan

Hi Tony,

It's good to know you know about Leopard Gecko's.  What is the correct temperature for day time?  The Reptile Centre say 82 - 84 degrees F, we have it at 82 degrees F,, Two sites I looked at say 85-95, and 85-90 degrees F.  Night time we have set at 84 Degree D like the Centre advised.

We want to be sure we get it right.

Hello Trish,

No worries on the name error, after all, it was me who jumped into the thread .

A good Idea would be to vary the tempretures betwwen 85 and 90 . That way it should feel more natural. I don't 95 in nessecery. It wouldn't harm the gecko at all , but it's not a comfortable heat for them.

If you get the chance, why don't you post a pic of her on the off topic forum , I'd love to see her.

All the best,

Alan

Alan,

Many thanks for the advice!!  Will certainly post a pic, I'll let her settle in first though, then she might strike a pose!!