# Ocellated Lizard (*Timon lepidus*) The Ocellated Lizard is a colorful reptile with bright blue and green spots. It loves to bask in the sun and can be found in rocky areas, where it hides among the stones. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Rocky areas ![Ocellated Lizard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/LagartoOcelado.jpg&width=800) Photo: Arturo Nikolai, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LagartoOcelado.jpg) ## Appearance The Ocellated Lizard is a large, sturdy lizard with a vibrant green body and striking blue ocelli (eye-like spots) ringed in black along its sides. Its belly is typically yellowish-white, and juveniles often display a more muted brownish-grey coloration with scattered spots. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Lacertidae - **Genus:** Timon ## Interesting facts - Their bright blue 'eye-spots' can sometimes change intensity, becoming brighter or duller. - These lizards can live for over 15 years, almost as long as some pet dogs! - They are excellent architects, digging complex burrows for safety and sleeping. - Young Ocellated Lizards start life with completely different brown or grey patterns! ## Special abilities - **Tail Escape Artist:** The Ocellated Lizard can detach its tail to distract predators, giving them a chance to escape and grow a new one! - **Super Jaw Strength:** This lizard has powerful jaws that help it crush hard-shelled insects and even small bones of tiny prey. - **Sun-Powered Energy:** The Ocellated Lizard basks in the sun to warm its body, which helps it digest food and stay active for hunting. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-70 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-20 - **Incubation:** 50-80 days ## Diet & Feeding These omnivorous lizards munch on insects, fruit, and even tiny animals! - **Age differences:** Young lizards tend to eat more insects, while adults include more diverse items like fruit and small vertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Grasshoppers, Snails, Berries, Small lizards, Rodents - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Bonelli's Eagle (*Hieraaetus fasciatus*) — A significant aerial predator of the lizard. - **Eaten by:** Montpellier Snake (*Malpolon monspessulanus*) — A large snake that preys on these lizards. - **Eats:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — A common food source for the lizard. - **Eats:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Juvenile rabbits are sometimes prey for large adults. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. ## 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 touch wild lizards. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ocellated 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 Ocellated Lizard? 40-70 cm ### How much does Ocellated Lizard weigh? 0.2-0.5 kg ### How long does Ocellated Lizard live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Ocellated Lizard move? 20 km/h ### What does Ocellated Lizard eat? These omnivorous lizards munch on insects, fruit, and even tiny animals! ### Where is Ocellated Lizard usually found? Rocky areas ### How does Ocellated Lizard hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bardenas Reales Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bardenas-reales-natural-park) — Navarra, ES · Park - [Cancarix Volcanic Plug Natural Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cancarix-volcanic-plug-natural-monument) — Castilla-La Mancha, ES · Park - [Garraf Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garraf-park) — Cataluña, ES · Park - [Tabernas Desert Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tabernas-desert-natural-area) — Mainland, ES · Park - [Alpilles Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alpilles-regional-nature-park) — Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, FR · Park - [Causses du Quercy Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/causses-du-quercy-regional-nature-park) — Occitanie, FR · Park [View all places to see Ocellated Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ocellated-lizard) ## 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: [Ocellated Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ocellated-lizard)