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underbelly colouring: |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10  View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 11 Nov 2006 Hi everyone,i'm a new member and was wondering if anyone knows at what age common lizards show underneath colours.--The reason i ask is that about 2 months ago i was coming into the house and nearly trod on a tiny lizard in a puddle on my doorstep--it was about an inch and a half long and along with the frog and slugs around was a potential snack for the hedgehog that visits so i brought it inside for a look.I used to keep common and sand lizards about 35 years ago when we were all a bit more ignorant of conservation issues but this one being so small lacked the usual markings. I put it into a temporary vivarium and after a slow start has just about doubled in size due to a non stop supply of tiny insects etc. Just today i see it has started getting an orange underside with black spots.I just want to say that it will be returned to the wild once this first hibernation period is over as apart from poss.breaking the law it belongs there. |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 11 Nov 2006
Hi Dalan You would not be breaking the law unless you are planning to harm the animal - though i suspect that a photo on here would help with identifiying the animal - once this has been finalised then we look at what else you need to consider
Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 12 Nov 2006 Hi--will try to get a decent pic with my cheapie camera when the lizard appears from his burrow--don't want to disturb things and possibly distress it--should get chance later today.I will also measure it as i was interested to get an age estimate,thanks. |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 13 Nov 2006 tried 12 photo's but my cameara isn't able to produce a good image at the range required--i measured it and it is 2 inches,so i would say it must have been nearer to 1 inch long when found.Seem to remember when the sand lizards i kept produced eggs the young were still black at 1 inch so i am sure this one is a common. |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 19 Dec 2006 i had not seen 'my' lizard for a day or two so when i spotted it this morning i was concerned that the back legs were being restricted by what i thought was a piece of dry root or grass that had become tangled round his body.Closer examination revealed that the obstruction was infact skin that was being shed,which rightly or wrongly surprised me as although kept indoors in the kitchen there is no other heat apart from cooking etc and i try to keep light and dark in relation to reality by using covers.---tried again to get a photo with another camera--also not successful. |
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reptilelover1 Member Joined: 24 Oct 2006 No. of posts: 26  View other posts by reptilelover1 |
Posted: 01 Jan 2007 oh keep trying to take those pics i would be intrested to see them thanks jordan jordie g |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 13 May 2007 hi,i've finally got a couple of pics before i release him but need an idiot proof crash course in sending them as they are just over 800kb--if anyone fancies a challenge. |
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darlington_gcn Member Joined: 07 Mar 2007 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by darlington_gcn |
Posted: 14 May 2007 my photos are bigger than that when i upload them to here, but email them to GemmaFC is the best bet i think Working on a 12 month conservation project with Durham Wildlife Trust and Darlington Borough Council on Great Crested Newts. Any help/advice appreciated - rjackson@durhamwt.co.uk |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 17 May 2007 here's the pics  |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 17 May 2007 still trying to get it sized--what i have noticed is his nose seems very short and eyes are quite bulgy-still find myself checking for webbed feet! |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 17 May 2007 sorry about the size of the previous pics of lizard in his jacuzzi--i'm still not convinced of what it is exactly--it's been many years since i was involved in any way and i don't remember them being like this one---any help would be useful as i'm looking at release in the next week or so,thanks,Dave. i've got an embarrassing feeling it may be a newt but cannot see any kind of fin or anything---if so---oops! sorry. |
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mikeyc_123 Member Joined: 02 Sep 2005 No. of posts: 7 View other posts by mikeyc_123 |
Posted: 17 May 2007 Hi Dalan, Looks like a common newt to me. But i'm not an exert. I have about 10 of these dotted around the garden. Although I have a pond I have only seen one in there (its a small pond with no plants) so its not ideal for them and my koi will probably have a go at eating them anyway. Cheers Mike |
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tim hamlett Senior Member Joined: 17 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 572  View other posts by tim hamlett |
Posted: 17 May 2007 hi dalanw it's definitely a female newt. newts are still in the water at this time of year so you should be able to let it go in any local or garden pond. cute little thing isn't she. tim |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 17 May 2007 Lovely newt ! Quick & easy way to check if in future doubt...count the number of toes on one of the front feet. newts have four, lizards five. Steve Langham - Chairman 
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
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dalanw Member Joined: 11 Nov 2006 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by dalanw |
Posted: 18 May 2007 thanks to everyone for the kind replies--think it's time for some new glasses! Seriously i'm happy to be corrected so i can release it into a suitable habitat, away from door steps etc.Will get a pic.--cheers,Dave. |
- underbelly colouring |
