Lizard
Lacerta sp.
Where is it found?
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Species dependent. European and mediterranean species usually live in forest and scrubland; Asian species in grassland and deserts and African species in rocky areas.
Diet and foraging method
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Hunters
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Key adaptations
These lizards vary hugely in colour between and within species, but are usually greenish brown in order to be camouflaged as they spend a lot of time basking in the sun on the ground. Their long slender bodies and long tails are also well adapted to taking heat from their surroundings such as the warm ground.
Social organisation and mating system
Species dependent.
Did you know that...?
In many Lacerta species, the males are particularly brightly coloured in the breeding season, and fight ferociously over females.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Fighting Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) 4295304" by Ermell - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fighting_Sand_lizards_(Lacerta_agilis)_4295304.jpg#/media/File:Fighting_Sand_lizards_(Lacerta_agilis)_4295304.jpg
"Fighting Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) 4295304" by Ermell - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fighting_Sand_lizards_(Lacerta_agilis)_4295304.jpg#/media/File:Fighting_Sand_lizards_(Lacerta_agilis)_4295304.jpg
