Common lizard taking advantage of the autumn sun

About common lizards:

Size:  Usually between 10 and 15cm long including tail

Average Lifespan: up to 12 years

Distribution:  Found throughout the U.K.

Months seen:  March to October.  During the winter Common Lizards hibernate underground

Habitat:  Grassland, heathland, forest edges, sand dunes and brownfield sites

Food:  Small insects and spiders

Conservation status: Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Threats to the common lizard: largely due to man, for example loss of their habitats and habitat fragmentation due to urbanisation and agricultural intensification.