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Common Lizard
Lacerta vivipara
This species is well distributed on the Kinson Common and it requires no description. Colourations can be all shades of brown which blend in well with the surroundings where they live. Young lizards are blackish in colour with sometimes a beautiful emerald green sheen.
Males grow to 150mm, females to 175mm. The name vivipara informs us that females retain eggs until they are ready to hatch. Young lizards are not cared for by parents and are immediately independent at birth.
All lizards love to bask in the sunshine, taking quickly to cover when disturbed. If caught or mishandled, they shed the tips of their tails as a defence mechanism. The shed tail allows it the opportunity to escape from its predators.
This species emerges during the early springtime and is active until the autumn when it hibernates.
Haunt. Two Barrow Heath, Poole Lane Heights and other sunny areas on
the Common.
Food. Insects of all descriptions.
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