Sand Lizard

Sand Lizard

Taxobox
name = Sand Lizard


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Sauria
familia = Lacertidae
genus = "Lacerta"
species = "L. agilis"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
binomial = "Lacerta agilis"

The Sand Lizard ("Lacerta agilis") is a lizard. It is distributed across most of Europe and eastwards to Mongolia, although it does not occur in the Iberian peninsula, west and south-east France, most of Great Britain, Italy (where it is present only in isolated colonies), European Turkey or most of Greece.

This species has a light underbelly and a dorsal stripe: males tend to be darker and colour and turn green during the mating season. Sand Lizards can reach up to 25cm in lengthFact|date=February 2008.

It has several sub-species, the westernmost of which is "Lacerta agilis agilis". In this and the other main western sub-species ("Lacerta agilis argus") the dorsal stripe is thin and interrupted – often not present at all, particularly in the latter sub-species (this also includes a red-backed phase, which has no dorsal markings at all but a plain red to brown dorsum). In these two sub-species only the flanks of the males turn green in the mating season, but in the eastern sub-species (predominantly "Lacerta agilis exigua") males can be totally green, even outside the breeding season.

In the UK, the Sand Lizard is restricted to southern heathlands and the coastal sand dunes of north west England. It is regarded as threatened and is strictly protected under UK law – as it is throughout most of Europe (it is a European Protected Species). This is in contrast to "Lacerta agilis exigua", whose Russian name translates as the "common lizard".

More information about this species in the UK can be found at the [http://www.herpconstrust.org.uk Herpetological Conservation Trust] which is the lead partner in the UK Sand Lizard Species Action Plan (SAP).

ee also

*Hesketh Golf Links

References

* [http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/docs/List-of-AnnexIV-EPS.pdf List of European Protected Species] .


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sand lizard — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sand lizard — sand′ liz ard n. 1) ram a common lizard, Lacerta agilis, of Europe and central Asia 2) ram any of several lizards that live in sandy areas …   From formal English to slang

  • sand lizard — noun 1. a common and widely distributed lizard of Europe and central Asia • Syn: ↑Lacerta agilis • Hypernyms: ↑lacertid lizard, ↑lacertid • Member Holonyms: ↑Lacerta, ↑genus Lacerta 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • sand lizard — 1. a common lizard, Lacerta agilis, of Europe and central Asia. 2. any of several lizards, as the fringe toed lizard, that live in sandy areas. [1850 55] * * * …   Universalium

  • Sand — Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent when …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sand badger — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sand bag — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sand ball — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sand bath — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sand bed — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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