Western green lizard


The western green lizard is a lizard of the family Lacertidae.

Etymology

The genus name Lacerta and the species name bilineata are Latin words respectively meaning "lizard" and "with two lines", with reference to the pale lines present on the flanks of the young individuals.

Subspecies

  • Lacerta bilineata bilineata Daudin, 1802
  • Lacerta bilineata chloronota Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810
  • Lacerta bilineata chlorosecunda Taddei, 1950
  • Lacerta bilineata fejervaryi Vasvary, 1926

    Distribution

It is native in Andorra, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Guernsey and Jersey in the Channel Isles. and introduced into the United States. There are also introduced colonies on the south coast of the U.K, notably around Poole Bay in Dorset.

Description

Lacerta bilineata reaches an average length of about, with a maximum of, including tail. The tail may reach up to twice the body length. The average weight is about 35 grams. The body is bright green. The head is bigger in males than in females, and the males often show a blue throat. Juveniles are almost brown, with a yellowish belly and two to four pale, longitudinal lines along the flanks. Sub-adults also have these lines, together with several small brown spots on their backs.
These lizards are territorial animals. They attain sexual maturity at around two years, when they are about 8 cm long. The males fight each other, especially during the mating period, when they are very aggressive towards rivals. The mating ritual is precise, and starts with a bite to the base of the female's tail. The females lay 6 to 25 eggs in a humid and warm site, such as in a decomposing log. The average life span of this species is about 15 years.
They feed on arthropods, like large insects, isopods and spiders.

Habitat

Its natural habitats are green humid areas, temperate forest, the edges of woods, shrubland, open grassland, arable land, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.