# Sand Lizard (*Lacerta agilis*) The Sand Lizard is a beautiful lizard with bright green or brown colors. It loves sandy habitats and can often be found sunbathing. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Sandy heathlands and grasslands. - **Also known as:** Common Sand Lizard, European Sand Lizard ![Sand Lizard](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426178/objects/5611.jpg) ## Appearance The Sand Lizard has a robust body, short legs, and a relatively long tail. Males are strikingly vibrant green on their flanks during breeding season, contrasting with a brown dorsal stripe. Females are typically camouflaged with shades of brown or grey, featuring dark spots and lines. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Lacertidae - **Genus:** Lacerta ## Interesting facts - Baby Sand Lizards hatch fully able to hunt and care for themselves. - If they drop their tail, it can sometimes grow back a different shape! - Sand Lizards love to sunbathe, moving to different spots as the day heats up! - They spend the whole winter sleeping safely underground in a deep hibernation. ## Special abilities - **Tail Breakaway:** Sand Lizard can detach its tail to escape danger, which wriggles and distracts predators, allowing the lizard to flee. - **Burrow Builder:** Sand Lizards can quickly dig into loose soil or sand, creating burrows for shelter from extreme weather or predators. - **Master of Disguise:** The Sand Lizard has speckled patterns that help them blend perfectly with sand and grass, hiding from hungry birds. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.02 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 18 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-14 - **Incubation:** 40-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These lizards are expert insect hunters, munching on a variety of creepy crawlies! - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Grasshoppers, Spiders, Caterpillars, Slugs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Smooth Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/smooth-snake) (*Coronella austriaca*) — Smooth snakes are a significant natural predator of this lizard. - **Eaten by:** [Common Buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buzzard) (*Buteo buteo*) — Buzzards can snatch them from open, sunny basking spots. - **Hunts:** Mealworm beetle (*Tenebrio molitor*) — Lizards actively hunt and consume beetle larvae and adults. - **Hunts:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) — Preys on garden spiders and other invertebrates in its habitat. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [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) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sand 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 Sand Lizard? 15-20 cm ### How much does Sand Lizard weigh? 0.005-0.02 kg ### How long does Sand Lizard live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Sand Lizard move? 18 km/h ### What does Sand Lizard eat? These lizards are expert insect hunters, munching on a variety of creepy crawlies! ### Where is Sand Lizard usually found? Sandy heathlands and grasslands. ### How does Sand Lizard hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo - [Biosphärenreservat Karstlandschaft Südharz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/biospharenreservat-karstlandschaft-sudharz) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Park - [Natur Park Südgelände](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natur-park-sudgelande-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park - [Natur- und Sternenpark Westhavelland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/westhavelland-nature-and-dark-sky-park) — Brandenburg, DE · Park - [Naturpark Fränkische Schweiz – Frankenjura](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/franconian-switzerland-frankenjura-nature-park) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Hohe Mark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-hohe-mark) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park [View all places to see Sand Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sand-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: [Sand Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sand-lizard)