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The European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis)
The European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) belongs to the true
lizards family (Lacertidae) and subfamily Lacertinae. Currently,
scientists distinguish 34 genera within the Lacertinae subfamily. Many of these inhabit Europe. In the context of recent changes in
taxonomy, geographical range of the European green lizard extends
over the Balkan Peninsula (probably excluding Peloponnese), Hungary,
the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Ukraine and Turkey.
In historical terms, the European green lizard is one of the
most mysterious and controversial representatives of the Polish
herpetofauna. It was undisputedly a part of the Polish fauna prior to
World War II, when the territories along the Dniester river constituted
a part of Poland. After World War II, it was not until 1972 that some
specimens of the species were caught near Ustroń, next to the former
Czechoslovakia border. It was then suggested that the lizards came
over from the Czech territory via the Moravian Gate. However, this
claim has been disputed by some researchers as the place in which the
lizards were caught does not conform to the habitat requirements of the
European green lizard. Moreover, no specimen of the species has been
reported to appear on the location ever since. Presumably, the animals
had been intentionally brought from a site outside Poland. In the years
to follow, the occurrence of the European green lizard in Poland was
again documented in the ruins of Siedlisko castle (Lubuskie province).
However, it turned out that the lizards were not the members of the
subspecies that might be found in Poland. Apparently, they were
intentionally introduced and, furthermore, the breeder who let them
loose was identified in Nowa Sól.
The European green lizard is considered extinct on the territory
of Poland. However, its occurrence in Poland still excites many
people. Each year at least several people claim to have seen
a specimen of the species; herpetologists amongst them. Hitherto,
no credible evidence confirming these reports has been presented.
Apparently, some of the witnesses confuse the European green lizard
species with entirely green males of the very common sand lizard.
However, one should remember that the European green lizard is
a much larger species, measuring up to 40 cm in length (the body
without tail measures up to 13.6 cm). In mating season, males are
predominantly bright green and their throat is coloured bright blue,
a feature missing in the sand lizard. Females and juveniles of the
European green lizard may be brown or brownish green, speckled with
dark spots and light dorsal stripes along their bodies. The specimens
of the European green lizard have long tails, which often measure
twice the length of the rest of their body. Their legs are slender and
equipped with long slim fingers.
In Europe, there are two similar and frequently confused species
of the lizard: the Western green lizard - Lacerta bilineata (until recently
considered the subspecies of the European green lizard) and the Balkan
green lizard (Lacerta trilineata).
The European green lizard is a stenothermic species. Depending
on the latitude, it inhabits lowlands, highlands and mountains. It can be
spotted in quite diverse environment: scrubby meadows, edges of woods,
stony and scrubby steppes with manna ash (Fraxinus ornus) as well
as road edges. Most often it stays on the ground, rocks or tree branches,
from which it can deftly jump to the ground. While in danger, the
European green lizard hides in burrows dug by itself or by other animals.
In mating season males get very aggressive and they fight savagely for
females; their clashes may lead to a serious injury if not death.
Tomasz Mazgajski
Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences