VIVIPAROUS LIZARD or COMMON LIZARD (Zootoca vivipara) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) or Common Lizard is of the family Lacertidae which is in the genus Zootoca. This viviparous reptile gives birth to live young, which is an adaptation that enables it to breed in colder regions where it hibernates for the winter. In the warmer parts of its range, it is oviparous or egg laying like other species of lizards and is active year round.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Distribution map of Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

ATLANTIC LIZARD (Gallotia atlantica) male, Los Molinos Reservoir, Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain

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There are only three species of reptile resident on the Eastern Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and the Chinijo Archipelago). They are the Atlantic Lizard Gallotia atlantica, the Eastern Canary Gecko (Tarentola angustimentalis) and the Eastern Canary Skink (Chalcides simonyi), all of whom are endemic. The lizard is common, has a wide spread distribution and in some locations can be abundant. It is found in a variety of habitats from sea level up to the higher peaks. Males are larger than females but rarely exceed 200mm in length. Three clutches of up to five eggs are laid annually. It is a very important food item in the diet of Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus subspecies F. t. dacoyiae) and also for Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo subspecies B. b. insularm).                                                                 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BALKAN POND TURTLE (Mauremys caspica subspecies M. c .rivulata ) Almyropotamos River, Polichnitos, Lesvos Island, Greece

 

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 The Balkan Pond Turtle (Mauremys caspica rivulata) or Western Caspian Turtle is of the family Geoemydidae which is in the genus Mauremys. It is native to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Syria and Turkey. This taxon is widely treated as a subspecies of Caspian Turtle (Mauremys caspica) but has most recently been considered a full species by some authorities.

VIVIPAROUS LIZARD or COMMON LIZARD (Zootoca vivipara) Dluga Luka Boardwalk, Biebrza National Park, Goniądz, Poland

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The Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) or Common Lizard is of the family Lacertidae which is in the genus Zootoca. This viviparous reptile gives birth to live young, which is an adaptation that enables it to breed in colder regions where it hibernates for the winter. In the warmer parts of its range, it is oviparous or egg laying like other species of lizards and is active year round.

 

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

 

 Distribution map of Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)