IF, like me, you didn’t make it in a foreign country for a ‘foreign holiday’ this summer time, then be happy to hitch me in celebrating the widespread lizard.
Somehow, seeing this lizard brings a way of the unique and you may think about for a second you might be in a distinct local weather altogether. Even in the event you did get away this summer time, it’s nonetheless a marvel to see these sun-seeking creatures at home.
Where to identify them
I can’t be sure whether or not our West Cork lizard inhabitants is doing notably properly just lately, or whether or not it’s as a result of I’m searching for them out for that vacation feeling, however we definitely have seen a number of these reptiles this summer time.
Most usually we have now noticed them basking within the solar on dry stone partitions alongside the perimeters of small roads and fields. Lizards are recognized to frequent a variety of habitats from heath, coastal dunes and grassland to rural gardens and woodland and we have now definitely noticed all of them alongside the coast the place we have now wandered. Seeing lizards at Toe Head, the Mizen, Baltimore, Cape Clear, Ballydehob and elsewhere provides proof that they’re widespread.
Be affected person
Common lizards are cold-blooded (ectothermic) that means that they can not generate their very own physique warmth, so must bask within the solar to thermoregulate. Therefore, to identify them, the trick is to maintain an eye fixed out for his or her sun-bathing spots, like logs, stones or naked grassy areas. These intriguing creatures additionally wish to bask near thick vegetation into which they’ll shortly retreat for cover from predators if wanted. Indeed, you must method slowly and punctiliously to get an excellent have a look at them, as they are typically cautious and are very fast to dart for canopy. Do not fear in the event that they scurry away, in case you are affected person they may return, as they normally keep on with basking spots as soon as they’ve chosen them.
Live births
Even although lizards would possibly set off ideas of the tropics, they’re native right here and are our solely fatherland reptile. Known because the widespread lizard, zootoca vivipara, has a big distribution throughout Eurasia, from Ireland within the west to Japan within the east and from arctic Russia and Scandinavia within the north to the Mediterranean within the south.
Interestingly, the extra northerly populations, comparable to ours, are tailored to our colder local weather. Even although most reptiles lay eggs, in a lot of its vary the widespread lizard produces eggs however retains them internally to assist hold them at an appropriate temperature. At the purpose of giving start, the egg membranes break and the young lizards emerge alive. Due to this, the widespread lizard is typically known as the viviparous lizard, viviparous that means that they provide start to dwell young. In hotter climates some populations have been noticed laying eggs externally. There is little or no parental care and the newly born lizards are impartial from start. Common lizards change into reproductively mature at two to 3 years and dwell a median of 5 years.
The tail trick
Common lizards are carnivores and their weight-reduction plan consists of spiders, slugs, snails, worms and, particularly, bugs comparable to flies and grasshoppers. Lizards, in flip, are a meals supply for birds of prey, crows and different giant birds, stoats, foxes and generally even hedgehogs. Sadly, pet cats usually kill them too, regardless of being well-fed at home.
Lizards have a intelligent trick to try to evade these predators. If they’re attacked, threatened or caught by their tail, they’ll separate from it. Their tail continues to wriggle for a interval and supplies a distraction whereas they escape. The tail can slowly regrow and it’s common to see lizards with quick stumps which might be within the means of regrowth. The course of is named autotomy and isn’t distinctive to the widespread lizard. Other animals comparable to starfish and sure species of crabs, bugs and spiders are additionally able to dropping and regrowing physique components in response to predation makes an attempt.
Seasonal cycles
Lizard hibernation is formally known as brumation and normally happens from March till October. The locations that they retreat to for the winter are generally known as hibernacula. Hibernacula might embody underground burrows, cavities amongst tree roots, log piles or rocks. Groups of lizards usually hibernate collectively and European research present that they’ll tolerate physique temperature ranges as little as -3 and -4°C for brief durations and survive even when half of their physique water has turned to ice for twenty-four hours.
Studies of the widespread lizard in Siberia have actually highlighted their chilly tolerance and demonstrated that they’ll survive in a frozen state for 2 months.
In spring, males emerge first to determine a territory, which they defend fiercely. When females arrive, mating is sort of a vicious affair, with the male utilizing a chew maintain to make sure the feminine doesn’t escape.
Each feminine might produce six to 12 offspring, basking within the heat of the summer time solar whereas pregnant to encourage growth of her offspring. The females might give start any time between July and September, relying on the circumstances in any given 12 months. Autumn is a busy time when adults and juveniles alike forage for meals to build up their power reserves earlier than brumation.
Common lizard seen by the aspect of the highway in Rea, Castlehaven. (Photo: Nick Haigh)
Confusion species
Lizards are generally confused with clean newts, however clean newts should not reptiles and are one among our three native amphibians. Newts, by comparability, have smoother pores and skin and solely have 4 digits on their entrance legs whereas lizards have 5. Their behaviour can be totally different and newts don’t bask within the solar, are slower to dart off and require proximity to freshwater to finish their life-cycle. Indeed, a conventional Irish title for the widespread lizard is earc luachra, which interprets as newt or lizard of the rushes, which appears to point a scarcity of distinction between the 2 species traditionally.
Slow worms
While I’ve acknowledged that lizards are Ireland’s solely native reptile, they don’t seem to be our solely reptile. We even have the sluggish worm, which being with out legs and rising as much as 50cm lengthy has the looks of a small snake.
The truth they’ve eyelids, ear holes and some different variations units them aside from snakes and makes them a legless lizard. It is believed they have been launched to Ireland from Britain in some unspecified time in the future through the twentieth century. Most sightings are confined to the Burren, with a number of scattered data round the remainder of the nation.
There is presently no recorded sighting of a sluggish worm within the National Biodiversity Data Centre database for West Cork, although one was recorded in Tracton in 2020. This strikes me as an awesome alternative and problem to be the primary, so hold your eyes peeled! I would definitely like to discover a sluggish worm, however for now I’ll content material myself with visiting our dependable lizard watching spots and imagining I’m overseas.
