Reproduction

In the United Kingdom they will breed in late spring with the young being born in July.

Across their range the viviparous lizard will engage in two breeding systems. In much of their range they give birth to up to 11 young which are fully formed and born live having hatched from their egg inside the mother. In other areas though they lay eggs which develop externally.

Live born young can emerge days or even weeks apart.

This system of breeding is an adaptation which allows them to survive in areas they otherwise wouldn't such as the cold of the Arctic.

While scientists have been able to hybridize the live bearing and egg laying populations in the lab it did create a high number of embryonic malfunctions.

In some regions they will lay between one and thirteen eggs in a clutch. These take three months to incubate.

Young are independent from birth with no parental care being provided.

Due to the long hibernation in the north of their range they will often breed only once in every two or three years.

Sexual maturity is reached at 2 years old.

Behavior

In northern, colder areas of their range they will undertake a period of hibernation which in some areas may live for up to 8 months. During this period they will seek shelter under a rock or log.

Much of their life is spent on the ground where they will hide among dense vegetation.

During the day they will bask on a sunny bank. They flatten out their body during this time. This often occurs near dense vegetation in to which they can dart if a threat approaches.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the viviparous lizard include birds of prey such as crows, snakes, hedgehogs, shrews, foxes and domestic cats.

When threatened they may shed their tail which continues moving and distracts the predator. They can regrow the tail but the new one is often shorter.

Across their range they face threats in some localized areas such as habitat loss from urbanization, tourism developments such as those in alpine areas and agricultural expansion.

While considered to be common across much of their range and listed as least concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature this species is declining in some localized areas.

Quick facts

Viviparous lizards are among the most common lizards in Europe and have one of the largest continuous ranges of any reptile.

These animals may also be referred to as the common lizard.

The scientific name of this species was formerly, Lacerta vivipara.

Their name, viviparous lizard comes from a word meaning 'to bear live young.'