The Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) is a large lizard found in Europe. Its genus name Lacerta and the part of the scientific name bilineata are Latin words which respectively mean “lizard” and “with two lines”; this is reference to the pale lines present on the flanks of the young individuals.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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starts withThe body of this species is bright green. The head is bigger in males than in females, and the males often show a blue throat. Juveniles are almost brown, with a yellowish belly and two to four pale, longitudinal lines along the flanks. Sub-adults also have these lines, together with several small brown spots on their backs.
Western green lizards are found in Andorra, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Guernsey, and Jersey in the Channel Isles. They like to live in green humid areas, temperate forests, the edges of woods, shrubland, open grasslands, arable land, and pasturelands.
Western green lizards are diurnal and territorial creatures. They are very good climbers and can often be seen in trees or bushes where they catch their prey. They may also swim. Starting mid-October, Western green lizards hibernate retreat in burrows abandoned by small rodents and hibernate until April.
Western green lizards are carnivores (insectivores). They mainly feed on insects but may also eat fruits, and birds’ eggs.
The breeding season of Western green lizards starts in May/June. Before the mating period, the males fight each other and are very aggressive towards rivals. The mating ritual is precise and starts with a bite to the base of the female's tail. The females lay 6 to 25 eggs in a humid and warm site, such as in a decomposing log and the incubation period typically lasts for 7 to 15 weeks.
The main threats to Western green lizards include the loss of suitable habitat, agricultural practices, and pollution.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Western green lizard total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, but its numbers today are decreasing.
