Jewelled lizard, Eyed lizard, Jeweled lacerta (in the pet trade)
The Ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) is a member of the family Lacertidae (wall lizards). It is one of the largest members of its family. The species is can be found only in southwestern Europe.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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starts withThe Ocellated lizard is a robust reptile with a serrated collar. The male has a characteristic broad head. It has thick, strong legs, with long, curved claws. The dorsal background color is usually green, but sometimes grey or brownish, especially on the head and tail. This is overlaid with black stippling that may form a bold pattern of interconnected rosettes. The underside is yellowish or greenish with both the male and female sporting bright blue spots along the flanks, though the male is typically brighter in color than the female. Young are green, grey, or brown, with yellowish or white, often black-edged, spots all over.
Ocellated lizards are found throughout the Iberian peninsula (Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar), and are patchily distributed in southern France and extreme northwestern Italy. These lizards live in various wild and cultivated habitats. They are rare at higher altitudes. They prefer dry, bushy areas, such as open woodland and scrub, old olive groves, and vineyards, and are sometimes found in more open, rocky, or sandy areas.
Ocellated lizards are territorial solitary reptiles that meet only for mating. They are diurnal in their habits but during hot summer days may switch to nocturnal activity. Ocellated lizards usually stay on the ground, but climb well on rocks and in trees. They can dig holes and sometimes use abandoned rabbit burrows. They also often bask on roadsides. During the coldest month of the year, Ocellated lizards retreat underground for hibernation.
Ocellated lizards are carnivores. They mainly eat large insects, especially beetles, and snails, and also rob birds’ nests and occasionally take reptiles, frogs, and small mammals. They may also eat fruit and other plant matter, especially in dry areas.
Ocellated lizards breed in late spring or early summer. Males are territorial in spring and fight in the breeding season. The female lays up to 22 eggs in June and July about 3 months after mating, hiding them under stones and logs or in leaf litter, or in loose damp soil. It tends to lay fewer, larger eggs in dry areas. The eggs hatch in 8 to 14 weeks and the young become reproductively mature at 2 years of age.
This species is threatened by the loss of its native habitat, poisoning, and pollution of agricultural areas with pesticides.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Ocellated lizard total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
