Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) ♂ & Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) ♂ ©
A rare comparative photograph of a male Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) and a male Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara). The Sand Lizard is the United Kingdom's rarest native lizard; it is totally harmless to man. In the UK, the Sand lizard is a specialist of heathland and dune habitats, and native populations can be found in the south of England in the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex and on the Lancashire coast at Sefton. A long-standing introduced colony is located on the inner-Hebridean island of Coll and recent re-introductions have expanded its range to the Kent and Welsh coasts. Like all UK reptiles, the Sand lizard is a carnivore, whose diet is mostly restricted to invertebrates, although any small moving creature may be instinctively taken, sometimes including their own young.Sand lizards grow to a length of about 8 inches (20cm), with the tail accounting for about half of this length. They can reach an age of twenty years in the wild, in exceptional circumstances. An individual Sand lizard can have a home range of between 85-2000m2. The Sand lizard is about 8 inches from nose to tail, with a robust build. The length of the tail makes up about half of the total length. Sand lizards have two pale lines running along the dorso-lateral surface of the body. Between these stripes there is usually a camouflage pattern of black/dark brown and a lighter tan colour. Ocelli (white spots or short stripes running along the dorsal surface) are common, and usually run in a broken line down the very centre of the back, but it is not uncommon to have groups of upto 3 white spots running across the back, between the dorso-lateral stripes. There is almost never a broken dark line running down the centre of the back, as often found with common lizards.Throughout the mating season (mid-April to mid-May), the male develops brilliant green flanks. The combination of this green, with the mottled brown back is unmistakable. If you see a greenish lizard that is uniform in body colour, then you have probably seen a Common lizard. Even out of the mating season, the male retains some green, although much diminished. The flank mottling of the male is finer with more black colouration than the female. Males sport a much larger head and deeper throat than the female of the species. In spring, the difference between the genders is clear. Males develop striking green flanks, and can be readily seen on mounds, defending their territory. Pairs of animals can often be seen basking together. Out of the breeding season, the differences are more subtle. Males have a stockier appearance, with heavy-set jaws and larger heads. The markings along the flanks of the male are more crowded, with a series of black crazing, compared to the more brown female, which has regular, larger ocelli along her flanks.Another useful tip, which relies upon the head of the male being larger, is that the eye of the female Sand lizard is usually situated about half way along the head. The eye of the male is situated about a third of the length of the head, closer to the neck. Text courtesy of Surrey ARG. Photo by Nick Dobbs, Bournemouth, Dorset 23-04-16 under permit
Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) ♂ & Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) ♂ ©
A rare comparative photograph of a male Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) and a male Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara). The Sand Lizard is the United Kingdom's rarest native lizard; it is totally harmless to man. In the UK, the Sand lizard is a specialist of heathland and dune habitats, and native populations can be found in the south of England in the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex and on the Lancashire coast at Sefton. A long-standing introduced colony is located on the inner-Hebridean island of Coll and recent re-introductions have expanded its range to the Kent and Welsh coasts. Like all UK reptiles, the Sand lizard is a carnivore, whose diet is mostly restricted to invertebrates, although any small moving creature may be instinctively taken, sometimes including their own young.Sand lizards grow to a length of about 8 inches (20cm), with the tail accounting for about half of this length. They can reach an age of twenty years in the wild, in exceptional circumstances. An individual Sand lizard can have a home range of between 85-2000m2. The Sand lizard is about 8 inches from nose to tail, with a robust build. The length of the tail makes up about half of the total length. Sand lizards have two pale lines running along the dorso-lateral surface of the body. Between these stripes there is usually a camouflage pattern of black/dark brown and a lighter tan colour. Ocelli (white spots or short stripes running along the dorsal surface) are common, and usually run in a broken line down the very centre of the back, but it is not uncommon to have groups of upto 3 white spots running across the back, between the dorso-lateral stripes. There is almost never a broken dark line running down the centre of the back, as often found with common lizards.Throughout the mating season (mid-April to mid-May), the male develops brilliant green flanks. The combination of this green, with the mottled brown back is unmistakable. If you see a greenish lizard that is uniform in body colour, then you have probably seen a Common lizard. Even out of the mating season, the male retains some green, although much diminished. The flank mottling of the male is finer with more black colouration than the female. Males sport a much larger head and deeper throat than the female of the species. In spring, the difference between the genders is clear. Males develop striking green flanks, and can be readily seen on mounds, defending their territory. Pairs of animals can often be seen basking together. Out of the breeding season, the differences are more subtle. Males have a stockier appearance, with heavy-set jaws and larger heads. The markings along the flanks of the male are more crowded, with a series of black crazing, compared to the more brown female, which has regular, larger ocelli along her flanks.Another useful tip, which relies upon the head of the male being larger, is that the eye of the female Sand lizard is usually situated about half way along the head. The eye of the male is situated about a third of the length of the head, closer to the neck. Text courtesy of Surrey ARG. Photo by Nick Dobbs, Bournemouth, Dorset 23-04-16 under permit