reptile · GBIF taxon 9702100
Viviparous Lizard
Zootoca viviparaAlso known as Common Lizard, Eurasian Common Lizard
Viviparous lizards thrive in cool, damp northern climates by basking on logs, stones, and grassy tussocks to quickly raise their body temperature. Unlike most reptiles, females in northern populations retain their eggs internally and give birth to fully formed, self-sufficient young wrapped in thin membranes. During winter, these resilient reptiles hibernate underground or beneath deep leaf litter, sometimes surviving temperatures below freezing.
Cold-tolerantLive-bearingDiurnal
- diet
- Carnivorous (primarily small invertebrates)
- family
- Lacertidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, fragmentation, and agricultural intensification
- life Span
- 5 to 6 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Spotting: Look for them basking on wooden boardwalks, stone walls, or dry log piles on sunny mornings.
- Approach: Move slowly and avoid casting a shadow over them, which triggers their predator-escape response.
- Handling: Avoid catching them, as they easily drop their tails to escape, costing them vital energy reserves.