The Common Lizard
A species often seen at Bovisand is the Common Lizard.
Living up to its name, it is the UK’s most common and widespread reptile and is the only reptile native to Ireland. It is found across many habitats, including heathland, moorland, woodland and grassland, where it can be seen basking in sunny spots.
If you see a legged-lizard (as opposed to a Slow-worm) in your garden, it is likely to be a Common Lizard as Sand Lizards (the only other native ‘legged’ species) are very rare and restricted to heathland.
While it varies in colour from black to vivid green, the common lizard is usually brown with a pattern of stripes or spots. It has scaly skin, a small, pointed head and measures around 10–15cm in length and lives for between 5 and 6 years. Its tail makes up over half of its length. Males have bright yellow or orange-speckled bellies whereas females have paler, plain underside.
Adults emerge from hibernation in spring, mating also takes place in spring and females ‘give birth’ to 3 to 11 lizards in August. Like the adder, the common lizard incubates its eggs internally without laying shelled eggs (like for instance the sand lizard). Juvenile lizards gradually turn a copper colour as they develop into adults. The common lizard likes open sunny places and is usually found in dry, exposed locations where dense cover exists close by.
They are diurnal, spending their nights beneath piles of rocks or logs, or in small burrows underground and feed on small invertebrates such as flies, grasshoppers and spiders. During the winter, they also hibernate in similar places.
Unfortunately for Common Lizards, they are a popular prey item for predators ranging from cats to hawks to jays. Luckily they have a lizard’s way to distract a predator they can shed their tail, which continues to wriggle and keep the predator’s attention, while the lizard escapes. This leaves a scar behind on the lizard, but it can regrow its tail, although it is usually shorter than the original.
Common lizards are protected by law in Great Britain. It is illegal to deliberately kill, injure or sell/trade common lizards. In Northern Ireland they are fully protected against killing, injuring, capturing.