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RAUK - Archived Forum - Common Lizard Identification

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Common Lizard Identification :

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INFORMATION
Member
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 16


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Posted: 07 Mar 2003

A description and images of the Common or Viviparous Lizard Lacerta vivipara/Zootoca vivipara may be found at:

 

http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/common_lizard.htm

 

® Gemma Fairchild

 

 


administrator37898.9726041667
INFORMATION
Member
Joined: 17 Feb 2003
No. of posts: 16


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Posted: 05 Apr 2003

Common Lizard Distribution

 

Date Species Location Stage Notes Sex Sighting Submitted by
16/03/03 Common Lizard Bedburn


C. Leeke
26/03/03 Common Lizard Starcross Adult Males and Females
T. Crawshaw
27/03/03 Common Lizard Matchams Adult 6
T. Phelps

 

Please add your Common Lizard sightings below so they may be added to the above table and the RAUK distribution map.

If you are unsure of the forum policies regarding accuracy of site descriptions and sighting reports please review them before posting.

http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/Forum Policies.htm

 

administrator37856.841400463
Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 326


View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster
Posted: 24 Apr 2003
April 18 - Bix, Oxfordshire, 1 subadult, 1 female

Cheers,

Wolfgang
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
Tony Phelps
Forum Specialist
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
No. of posts: 575


View other posts by Tony Phelps
Posted: 24 Apr 2003

Those taxonomists are at it again.

Just getting used to 'Zootoca' when just read that this may not be valid.

Quote;

"The phylogenetic position of this taxa is not well supported, with contradictory evidence from mtDNA and morphological characters ( Arnold, 1989);Fu,2000). Neverthless.a;; of these analyses inferred that Z.vivipara was an internal branch within the paraphletic Lacerta, and therefore its recognition as a full genus  does not alter the paraphyl of Lacerta."

Ref

Harris, D.J., Carretero, M.A. (2003). Comments on the taxonomic value of  (sub) genera within the family Lacertidae (Reptilia)

Amphibia-Reptilia 24: 119-122

 

 

Tony

 

 


Matt Harris
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 196


View other posts by Matt Harris
Posted: 03 Jun 2003

Hi Wolfgang,

Just to be nosey, when you say BIX did you see them at the Warburg Reserve?  I did herp survey there for a year in 1998/9.  Fantastic place not just for reptiles, but birds, orchids, butterflies etc.

Matthew


Gwent Amphibian and Reptile Group (GARG)
Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 326


View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster
Posted: 03 Jun 2003
Hi Matt,

Yes, 'twas at the Warburg Reserve - and yes, it is definitely one of my favourite places for general naturalist excursions when I am down south. And it is also one of the few reserves I am familiar with where they actually seem to care about the requirements of reptiles as much as about those of other, "prettier" organisms.

Cheers,

Wolfgang
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
bardofely
Member
Joined: 04 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 1


View other posts by bardofely
Posted: 04 Jun 2003

I have just been browsing around looking for info on the distribution of the common lizard and happened on this bb. I live in Cardiff and in my childhood and teens, back in the '60s, common lizards were indeed common around here on railway banks on roadside verges and hedgebanks, in allotments and in woodland clearings. They have been vanishing at a very alarming rate and I currently only know 2 sites where you might spot one or 2 on a good day. Other places in Wales where they were once common seem to tell the same sorry tale. I remember they were once to be seen all around Tenby but not any more!

Personally, I think that the vast number of cats have helped this sad decline but this cannot be the case in more rural areas. 

Places where I would be able to see many lizards on a sunny day about 20-30 years ago I now see none. The slow-worm, however, seems to be holding its own in these places so whatever has killed the lizards hasn't killed them.

 

 


Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 06 Jun 2003
I found a common lizard on my kitchen floor a couple of days ago!  It's about 2 inches long.  Not sure what to do with it - where should I release it?
Trish
Tony Phelps
Forum Specialist
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
No. of posts: 575


View other posts by Tony Phelps
Posted: 06 Jun 2003

Was this via the cat?  release in nearest suitable cat free habitat.

 

Tony


Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 06 Jun 2003
I do have a cat, but It appears to have come on of its own accord!!
Trish
Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 06 Jun 2003
By the way, it has on orange belly - is it male?
Trish
Tony Phelps
Forum Specialist
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
No. of posts: 575


View other posts by Tony Phelps
Posted: 06 Jun 2003

Hi Trish,

If it is just plain orange (no spots) then its female. But see Dave Birds posting (photos) of underside of Comm Liz from a while back .

Tony Phelps


Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 06 Jun 2003

Hi Tony,

It has no spots, just plain orange so I guess it's female.  I'm now really interested in lizards - I have always liked snakes but my husband doesn't so maybe lizards are the way to go!  I will look at Dave Bird's photo's. Thankyou!!


Trish
Tony Phelps
Forum Specialist
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
No. of posts: 575


View other posts by Tony Phelps
Posted: 07 Jun 2003

Hi Trish,

Yeah lizards are fantastic creatures, but so are snakes, your fella does not know what he is missing - talk to him nice.

 

Tony


Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 07 Jun 2003

Hi Tony,

We let the lizard go free, and are now the proud owners of a Leopard Gecko, about 6 weeks old.  Our 2 sons have named her Lizzie.  I think we may get her a friend!


Trish
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


View other posts by Alan Hyde
Posted: 07 Jun 2003

Hi Trish,

Congratulations on the new arrival! My son had a pair of leopard geckos , so if you need any tips just fire away.

Carefull on feeding mealworms , as they find them hard to break down and will regurge.

Good luck with her,

Alan


O-> O+>
Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 07 Jun 2003

Hi Tony,

It's good to know you know about Leopard Gecko's.  What is the correct temperature for day time?  The Reptile Centre say 82 - 84 degrees F, we have it at 82 degrees F,, Two sites I looked at say 85-95, and 85-90 degrees F.  Night time we have set at 84 Degree D like the Centre advised.

We want to be sure we get it right.


Trish
Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 07 Jun 2003
I have just realised I adressed my last message to Tony,  Sorry Alan!!  And I meant degrees F, not D!!
Trish
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


View other posts by Alan Hyde
Posted: 07 Jun 2003

Hello Trish,

No worries on the name error, after all, it was me who jumped into the thread .

A good Idea would be to vary the tempretures betwwen 85 and 90 . That way it should feel more natural. I don't 95 in nessecery. It wouldn't harm the gecko at all , but it's not a comfortable heat for them.

If you get the chance, why don't you post a pic of her on the off topic forum , I'd love to see her.

All the best,

Alan


O-> O+>
Trish
Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 9


View other posts by Trish
Posted: 07 Jun 2003

Alan,

Many thanks for the advice!!  Will certainly post a pic, I'll let her settle in first though, then she might strike a pose!!


Trish

- Common Lizard Identification

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