# Green Lizard (*Lacerta viridis*) The Green Lizard is a bright green reptile that loves to bask in the sun. It has a long body and can run quickly when it feels threatened. These lizards are fun to watch as they explore their surroundings! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Green Lizard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lacerta_viridis_-_female_01.JPG&width=800) Photo: Uoaei1, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lacerta_viridis_-_female_01.JPG) ## Appearance The Green Lizard is strikingly emerald green with a bright yellow or white belly. Males often display brilliant blue throats and heads, especially during breeding season, making them easily distinguishable from other lizards. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Lacertidae - **Genus:** Lacerta ## Interesting facts - Green lizards can recognize their own territory and defend it fiercely! - Male green lizards show off amazing blue heads to attract a mate! - These lizards actually bask in the sun to warm up their bodies and get energy. - They lay their soft, white eggs underground in sunny, warm spots to hatch. ## Special abilities - **Super Camouflage:** Green Lizards can change their skin tone slightly to blend into green leaves and sun-dappled grass, helping them hide from predators. - **Tail Breakaway:** Green Lizards can drop their wiggling tail if caught by a predator, giving them a chance to escape and grow a new one later. - **Speedy Escape:** Green Lizards have powerful legs that help them burst into incredible speeds to chase prey or quickly flee from danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-40 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.035 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-20 - **Incubation:** 50-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These speedy lizards mostly gobble up insects, but sometimes enjoy sweet fruits too! - **Age differences:** Young lizards eat only insects, while adults add small fruits and berries to their diet. - **Primary Foods:** crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, snails, berries - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Common Buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buzzard) (*Buteo buteo*) — A common bird of prey that hunts lizards. - **Eaten by:** [Grass Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grass-snake) (*Natrix natrix*) — Snakes are ground predators that will ambush lizards. - **Hunts:** [Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-cricket) (*Gryllus campestris*) — Green Lizards actively hunt and eat many types of crickets. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Opportunistic mammal predators, including foxes, prey on lizards. ## Traits - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to catch them; they are wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green Lizard? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Green Lizard? 15-40 cm ### How much does Green Lizard weigh? 0.01-0.035 kg ### How long does Green Lizard live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Green Lizard move? 15 km/h ### What does Green Lizard eat? These speedy lizards mostly gobble up insects, but sometimes enjoy sweet fruits too! ### Where is Green Lizard usually found? Grasslands ### How does Green Lizard hunt? Pursuit ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Green Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-lizard)