Green lizard as called? What to eat green lizards

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 this family scientists found and studied in the first place. The green lizard, as this kind of animal is called a scientist, is the representative of the "real" family. This article will provide answers to questions about the habits and habitat of such reptiles.

How do they look?

The green lizard is a relatively large reptile, whose body length reaches fifteen centimeters. The tail of a reptile is usually about twice as long as the body. It is quite brittle, the animal easily throws it at the moment of danger. On the head of a green lizard there are several scutes. One of them - intermaxillary - reaches the nostrils or is separated from it by a jumper. Usually, these animals have only one zygomatic scutum, and the back of the forehead - two or three. There are also upper limbs. They are located in front of the anterior-vertebral in the number of four, rarely three or five. Between the upper-nares and the supraorbital scutes, usually up to fourteen grains are found. It also happens that there are no grains at all. The head of the reptile is also provided with temporal scutes, the upper ones of which are usually found in the number of two, while the middle ones sometimes have more pronounced dimensions than the others. The green lizard also has a drum shield, which is sometimes almost invisible. On the neck of the reptile there is a throat fold, and there is also a luxurious scaly, effectively serrated collar.

Almost the whole body of a green lizard is covered with scales. The middle line of the reptile's throat is decorated with scales, the number of which varies between 16-27. On the back, the animal's scales have an elongated hexagonal shape and well-developed ribs. The middle of the body of the reptile is framed by 40-58 scales. The anal shield is partially surrounded by six to ten near-apical scutes, the average pair of which is usually wider than the others.

In what color are they painted?

It would seem that the answer to this question is hidden in the very name of the animals. However, everything is not so simple. Adult individuals are not at all monotonous and often are painted in shades of black, yellow and even (in places) blue.

Young lizards are usually monochrome, brown-brown or brownish-gray with sparse speckles of black, passing on the sides in small white spots. With age, the animal's back turns green, and on the sides of the lizard appear longitudinal white stripes. Adult individuals have a dark or bright green color, dotted with a lot of yellow or black spots on top. Because of them, the lizard sometimes looks almost black with yellow and green impregnations. There are reptiles with dark spots of irregular shape in a light edging along the ridge. The green lizard has a brownish or emerald head with white or yellow impregnations and dashes. During the breeding period, the throat of males becomes bright blue, and in females - bluish or greenish with marbled divorces. The belly of the first - bright yellow, the second - white.

Where do they live?

A green lizard is found in Southern and Central Europe. It also lives in Asia Minor, its north-western part. A similar reptile is found practically on the whole territory of Moldova and in the southwestern part of the Right-Bank Ukraine. The area of distribution of the animal in the Dnieper valley reaches Kiev, in the middle reaches of the river it spreads to the left bank, where the river Vorskla reaches Poltava.

The green lizard loves sunny and dry places, often inhabits rocky areas in river floodplains, on hilly slopes with rare forests and shrubs, in gardens, vineyards, meadows, forest glades. On average, one animal can be found on 250-1000 meters of the route. The reptile finds shelter in piles of stones, heaps of brushwood, cracks in the rocks, spaces under the tree trunks lying on the ground, long specially dug holes.

At what time are the most active?

The green lizard, photos of which are presented in this article, have 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 zone - from May to September. In the hottest period the animal sometimes falls into a hibernation. The warm season was marked by a peak of activity at the green lizard. In the morning hours, she hunts energetically. At noon - from 12.00 to 16.00 - most reptiles disappear in secluded shelters and cool, shaded places. Then the lizards come out of their hiding places again. During hunting or sudden danger, animals usually climb on trees and bushes, where they easily move from one branch to another, and also jump down from a rather large height. If the lizard has found a reliable shelter, then it is not easy to lure it out. Even strong punches 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. And gastronomic preferences depend on the time of the year. Waking up from winter hibernation and some time after it (in the spring and in the early days of summer), reptiles actively eat spiders and beetles. In the autumn and in the second half of summer, lizards with pleasure eat caterpillars and orthopterans. Their diet is sometimes supplemented by earthworms, mollusks, phalanges, centipedes, dragonflies, Diptera and other insects. Sometimes these animals eat plant food, it happens that they eat smaller lizards.

How do they multiply?

A large green lizard reproduces during the mating season, which lasts from May to June. At this time, there are fierce battles between males. Pregnancy of fertilized females lasts six to eight weeks. After that, in the second half of June and until the end of July, the lizards lay eggs (5-13 pieces), burrowing them into the soil to a depth of seven to eight centimeters. Young individuals are hatched from eggs in late summer and early autumn. As a rule, they lead an independent way of life. Sexual maturity in lizards occurs two years after birth.