In the science of reptiles, there is the concept of a "family of real lizards." This term does not mean that such animals are the most typical representatives of their species. It's just that this family of scientists found and studied in the first place. The green lizard, as scientists call this genus of animals, is a representative of the "real" family. This article will provide answers to questions about the habits and habitat of such reptiles.
What do they look like?
The green lizard is a relatively large reptile, whose body length reaches fifteen centimeters. The reptile's tail is usually about twice as long as the body. It is quite brittle, the animal easily dumps it at the moment of danger. On the head of the green lizard are several shields. One of them - intermaxillary - reaches the nostril or is separated from it by a jumper. Typically, these animals have only one zygomatic flap, and the posterior nasal two or three. There are upper lip shields. They are located in front of the anterior orbital in the amount of four, less often - three or five. Between the upper lumbar and supraorbital scutes, there are usually up to fourteen grains. It also happens that there are no grains at all. The head of the reptile is also equipped with temporal scutes, the upper of which are usually found in the amount of two, and the middle ones sometimes have more pronounced sizes than the rest. The green lizard also has a tympanic shield, which is sometimes almost invisible. On the reptile's neck there is a throat fold, and there is also a luxurious scaly, spectacularly serrated collar.
Almost the entire body of the green lizard is covered with scales. The middle line of the throat of the reptile is decorated with scales, the number of which ranges from 16-27. On the back, the scales of the animal have an elongated hexagonal shape and well-developed ribs. The middle of the reptile's body is framed by 40-58 scales. The anal flap is partially surrounded by six to ten near-canal flaps, the middle pair of which is usually wider than the others.
What color are painted?
It would seem that the answer to this question lies in the very name of animals. However, everything is not so simple. Adult individuals are not at all monotonous and are often colored in shades of black, yellow and even (sometimes) blue.
Young lizards are usually monochromatic, brownish-brown or brownish-gray with rare black specks turning into small white spots on the sides. With age, the back of the animal turns green, and longitudinal white stripes appear on the sides of the lizard. Adult individuals have a dark or bright green color, dotted on top with a lot of yellow or black spots. Because of them, the lizard sometimes looks almost black with yellow and green spots. There are reptiles with dark spots of irregular shape in a light border, located along the ridge. The green lizard has a brownish or emerald head with white or yellow blotches and dashes. During the breeding season, the throat of males becomes bright blue, and that of females becomes bluish or greenish with marble stains. The belly of the former is bright yellow, the latter is white.
Where do they live?
A green lizard is found in southern and central Europe. She also lives in Asia Minor, its northwestern part. A similar reptile is found almost throughout the territory of Moldova and in the southwestern part of Right-Bank Ukraine. The distribution area of the animal in the Dnieper valley reaches Kiev, in the middle course of the river it spreads to the left bank, where it reaches the Poltava along the Vorskla River .
The green lizard loves sunny and dry places, often inhabits rocky areas in river floodplains, on hilly slopes with sparse forests and shrubs, in orchards, vineyards, mezhah, forest glades. On average, one animal can be found per 250-1000 meters of the route. The reptile takes refuge in piles of stones, heaps of brushwood, crevices in the rocks, spaces under tree trunks lying on the ground, long specially dug burrows.
What time are most active?
The green lizard, photos of which are presented in this article, has different periods of activity in different habitats. In the southern part of Ukraine, the reptile leads a lively lifestyle from March to October, in the middle lane - from May to September. In the hottest period, the animal sometimes falls into hibernation. The warm season is marked by a two-peak peak in activity of the green lizard. In the morning, she hunts vigorously. At noon - from 12.00 to 16.00 - most reptiles disappear in secluded shelters and cool, shaded places. Then the lizards again come out of their shelters. During hunting or sudden danger, animals usually climb trees and shrubs, where they easily move from one branch to another, and also jump down from a rather high height. If the lizard has found reliable shelter, then it is not easy to lure from there. Even strong stick hits on the ground will not produce the desired effect.
What do they eat?
Green lizards are predators. Spiders, hymenoptera, caterpillars, bugs, orthopterans, and beetles predominate in the diet. Moreover, gastronomic preferences depend on the time of year. Having woken up from hibernation and some time after it (in the spring and in the first days of summer), reptiles actively eat spiders and beetles. In autumn and in the second half of summer, lizards enjoy feeding on caterpillars and orthopterans. They sometimes supplement their diet with earthworms, mollusks, phalanges, millipedes, dragonflies, dipterans, and other insects. Sometimes these animals feed on plant foods; it happens that they also eat smaller lizards.
How do they breed?
A large green lizard breeds during the mating season, which lasts from May to June. At this time, fierce battles between males occur. Pregnancy of fertilized females lasts six to eight weeks. After that, in the second half of June and until the end of July, lizards lay eggs (5-13 pieces), digging them into the soil to a depth of seven to eight centimeters. Young individuals hatch from eggs in late summer and early fall. As a rule, they lead an independent lifestyle. Lizards puberty occurs two years after birth.