Common Lizard
Featured in: Year 1: Animals, including humans
Common Lizard
Reptile
The UK's most common and widespread reptile, often seen basking in sunny spots on logs or rocks.
💡 Fun Facts
Can shed its tail if caught by a predator. The tail continues to wriggle, distracting the attacker while the lizard escapes.
Gives birth to live young, which is unusual for a reptile, rather than laying eggs.
They hibernate through the winter, often in groups inside log piles or under rocks.
📅 Through the Year
- Hibernation:November to February
- Active:March to October
Name Story
Zootoca vivipara
means “The live-bearer — said twice”
What does its name mean?
- Zootoca — bringing forth live youngGreek zoon 'living thing' + tokos 'birth'
- vivipara — bearing live youngLatin vivus 'alive' + parere 'to give birth'
Most lizards lay eggs, but this one gives birth to wriggling live babies — a clever trick for staying warm in cool northern places — and both halves of its name say that very thing, once in Greek and once in Latin.