Summary ⁷

The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is a lacertid lizard distributed across most of Europe and eastwards to Mongolia. It does not occur in the Iberian peninsula or European Turkey. Its distribution is often patchy.

Description ⁸

The sand lizard is larger than the common lizard, and somewhat stockier. Sand lizards have an attractive pattern of dark spots with light centres (ocelli), over a background of brown or grey. Males develop vivid green flanks in the breeding season (April to May). Juveniles are a more uniform brown, with distinct ocelli. There is some regional variation in appearance between animals from the north of England and those in the south, which are darker overall.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Li-Lian Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/42154812@N00/3477762334
2. (c) Biopix, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/Lacerta%20agilis%2000080.JPG
3. (c) Jiří Duchoň, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/42696.jpg
4. (c) Stanislav Krejčík, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/69973.jpg
5. (c) Ondřej Zicha, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/73.jpg
6. (c) Ivo Antušek, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/6980.jpg
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacerta_agilis
8. (c) Wildscreen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/6692096

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HerpMapper
• NBN Atlas
• The Reptile Database
• VertNet

Range Map

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