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| Fact File |
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- Adults can reach 20cm long.
- They back is usually a shade of
grey or brown; males develop bright green flanks
during the breeding season.
- There are two strong stripes down
the pack and usually an oscillating pattern.
- Sand lizards are one of our
rarest reptiles.
- They
have full legal
protection under UK law making it an offence to
kill, injure, capture, disturb or sell them or to
damage or destroy their habitats.
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Photos by Tracey Farrer (left) and Sam
Taylor/Froglife (right) |
Sand lizards are one of the UK’s rarest reptiles - due to
dramatic habitat loss they now only naturally occur on sandy heathland in Surrey, Dorset and Hampshire and coastal sand dune
systems in Merseyside. A captive breeding programme has
reintroduced sand lizards to further sites in these areas and
restored its range with releases in North Wales, Devon, Cornwall
and West Sussex. Sand lizards have a stocky appearance and the
males are easily recognisable by their bright green flanks.
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Adult lizards emerge from their hibernation sites in spring;
breeding takes place during April and May. Sand lizards are
dependent on well managed heathland or sand dune habitats. They
bask in sunny spots close to mature vegetation. They
feed on fruit and flower heads as well as insects, slugs
and spiders. |
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Females lay their eggs in May/June; the eggs are buried
in sand which is exposed to sun, allowing them to keep
warm. Between August and early October the eggs hatch
and juvenile lizards emerge. |
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Between August and early October the eggs hatch and
juvenile lizards emerge. |
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lizards hibernate between November and March. |
Degradation and loss of heathland and coastal habitats.
Frequently asked questions about
lizards.
Check out our
sand lizard gallery on Facebook.
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