Lizards have fascinated humans for thousands of years. The animals have an extraordinary way of life and are bound to special habitats. But the reptiles are endangered by the steady decline in their habitats. With simple measures you can protect the native species and settle them in your garden.

The wood lizard inhabits moist, woody areas

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. lizards in Germany
  3. Characteristics
  4. habitat
  5. food
  6. Differences gecko - lizard
  7. Differences lizard - salamander
  8. keeping as a pet
  9. Arts and Culture
  10. literature and history
  11. Funny facts
  12. frequently asked Questions

    13. the essentials in brief

    • Only these four types of lizards are found in German gardens: wall lizard, sand lizard, green lizard and wood lizard
    • Lizards like it dry and sunny and live in dry stone walls, forest ridges or heaths, depending on the species
    • Mating season is between March and July
    • From September/October (males from August) lizards go into hibernation

    Lizards in German Gardens

    If you want to settle lizards in the garden, you have to create a diverse mosaic of different habitats. The reptiles find good living conditions in environments that are as natural as possible, with each species having individual requirements. The more species-rich the garden, the more comfortable not only lizards but also insects feel. In this way you create a varied food supply for the new garden dwellers.

    Lizards feel at home here:

    • Stones with all-day sun
    • vegetation-free roadsides
    • Deadwood with hiding places
    • dense brambles
    • loose sandy soil

    These lizards can be found in our gardens in Germany:

    wall lizard

    With dry stone walls, rock gardens or piles of rocks, you offer this species an ideal basis for life. The sunnier and warmer the habitat, the more comfortable the wall lizard feels. It hides between the stones or in cracks in walls, where it also lays its eggs from March to June. During this time, the stone landscapes should remain untouched so as not to disturb the animals or damage the clutch.

    sand lizard

    Leave a part of your garden to its natural course, so that a wild and natural habitat is established after a short time. Sand lizards feel particularly at home here. You can completely stop maintenance in this area. Between March and October the areas should not be disturbed so that the reptiles are not frightened off. With small walls or piles of stones you offer the species optimal places to sunbathe.

    tips

    If you mow the remaining lawns, you should mow them in strips. As a result, the lizards still have sufficient protective surfaces when they cross the lawn.

    green lizards

    The species prefer to stay on slopes, with damper habitats being preferred. Allow sloping water edges, south-facing terrace slopes or hollows to become overgrown so that natural vegetation can develop. The more structured the vegetation, the better the living conditions for the reptiles. Dry stone walls and heaps of stones offer good sun spots and hiding spots.

    Particularly suitable habitats:

    • Semi-arid lawn with bushes
    • gorse heaths and brambles
    • Meadows with sloes
    • orchards

    wood lizard

    The species prefers habitats rich in vegetation with different layers. It feels particularly comfortable in fringe communities and inhabits forest clearings and embankments. Since wood lizards need more moisture than their relatives, you should provide them with a body of water in the garden. The animals are able to swim through the water when threatened. Overgrown areas that are loosened up with heaps of stones represent valuable and undisturbed habitats in the garden.

    color change

    If you offer the animals an undisturbed area, you can observe a special feature during the mating season. Males usually have a yellow colored underside. An orange belly indicates the male is ready to mate. In rare cases, the abdomen is colored red.

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    background

    tail shedding

    Lizards have a very long tail compared to the rest of their body, which they can shed when threatened. There is a predetermined breaking point at the base of the tail, which breaks open through muscle contractions. The tail will move a few minutes after being dropped. The movements attract the attention of predators, allowing the lizard to flee.

    Lizards are able to regenerate their tails. This usually grows back in a shortened form. More than 300 genes that are normally responsible for wound healing or embryonic development are involved in regeneration. The tail does not grow in one piece but in stages. It takes about 60 days for the cells along the developing tail to form tissue.

    About the animal

    Lizards are reptiles belonging to the scaled family. In the lower classification, the family includes about 300 species including sand lizards, wall lizards and wood lizards. The age of the animals is variable and depends on the individual living conditions. In captivity, the reptiles live much longer than in the wild. Sand lizards can live up to twelve years in the terrarium, although the animals usually don't get older than six years in the wild.

    species

    The approximately 300 different species of lizards are found from Europe to the Near East and Southeast Asia. They inhabit tropical and subtropical habitats in Africa. Lizards are absent on the Australian and American continents. There are large species that can grow to almost a meter in length. Small animals are as large as the space between the thumb and little finger in an extended position. The size of the reptiles varies between twelve and 90 centimeters.

    general characteristics

    Lizards have four short limbs, each with five toes, attached to an elongated body. They can close their eyes with eyelids. The eardrums, which are visible on the skull, are striking. There is a scale-covered collar between the throat and chest. The abdominal scales are arranged in regular longitudinal and transverse rows. These are larger than the scales on the back. Unlike many other reptiles, lizards do not develop throat pouches, clingy toes, or dorsal crests.

    Lizards develop sexual dimorphism. The males are more vividly colored than the females, whose bodies are better camouflaged by inconspicuous colors and patterns. In some species, such as the common lizard, the abdomen changes color, making the male more attractive to females.

    digression

    dragon lizard

    The correct name for this reptile is Giant Girdletail (Smaug giganteus). The German trivial name is misleading, since this species is not a lizard but a related species. Because of their strikingly large and thorn-like scales, the reptiles are called miniature dragons.

    The dragon lizard really looks like a mini dragon

    skeleton

    The physique of the animals is very slim, which gives them a high degree of agility. The reptiles are divided into head, trunk and tail. Your skeleton has a spine that supports your body. The skull can be distinguished from other reptiles by the symmetrical shields on top. A zygomatic arch and covered temple openings are characteristic. Lizards have what is known as pleurodont teeth, in which the teeth sit rootless on a ledge in the jaw. There are two to four bumps on the lateral teeth.

    locomotion

    The animals move by wriggling their bodies and moving their limbs. Because of this meandering-creeping type of locomotion, lizards are counted among the reptiles, also known as reptiles.

    reproduction and lifestyle

    The mating season for native reptiles extends between March and July. The males secrete a waxy substance from their glandular scales on their thighs. Once they have found the right partner, both carry out a mating march. After successful fertilization, the female increasingly seeks out sunny places to promote the development of the offspring. In rare cases, lizards can reproduce without first being fertilized.

    This is what young animals of the wood lizard look like:

    • 30 to 40 millimeters long
    • dark bronze color
    • Black coloring is partially preserved in old animals ("blacklings")

    enemies

    Juveniles are on the menu of various animals. They are hunted and preyed upon by smaller songbirds such as robins. Beetles can also be dangerous for the newly hatched lizards. Predators of adult animals include birds of prey and kestrels. Crows and storks also hunt for lizards. Sometimes they fall victim to the hunting instinct of domestic cats.

    Where lizards live

    The reptiles prefer habitats that offer mostly dry conditions. Sunny places where the animals can warm themselves are important. At the same time, they need hiding places in hollowed-out tree stumps, burrows or crevices in rocks. In the dense vegetation, lizards seek shelter from too much heat. Their scales enable the lizards to live independently of water.

    food habitat
    wood lizard small insects, spiders Heaths, moors, forest edges, meadows
    wall lizard insects, spiders dry stone walls, rocks
    sand lizard Insects, Spiders, Worms densely overgrown forest edges and heaths
    green lizards Snails, larger insects, spiders, small vertebrates overgrown slopes with wet soil

    wintering

    The males go to their winter quarters in August. Females retire in September while juveniles remain active into October. Before winter sets in, the reptiles look for a safe hiding place between tree roots, in crevices and burrows in the ground or in cavities under stone slabs and dead wood. If there are no suitable places to retreat, lizards dig holes for themselves.

    In winter, lizards go into hibernation. Unlike hibernation, hibernation is only affected by the outside temperature. When the air temperature drops, the body temperature equalizes.

    How lizards survive the winter:

    • opened eyes
    • Heartbeat and breathing slow down
    • no movements possible
    • no food intake

    What lizards eat

    The lizards' diet consists mainly of worms and insects such as mosquitoes and flies. They eat arthropods and disdain neither seed nor fruit. Some species feed on small invertebrates.

    tips

    Sow small strips of wildflowers in the lawn and create perennial beds to increase biodiversity. The compost heap is also part of the lizard's habitat, as many insects cavort here.

    prey capture

    The lizards' prey-catching behavior is impressive. They lie in wait to spot their prey. Once they have sighted an insect, the reptiles begin to tongue. The tongue slides in and out of the mouth in quick movements. Lizards can pick up scents from their prey with their tongues and pass them on to a sensory organ located in the oral cavity. The lizards seize their prey in a leap. She is crushed by jaw movements before being devoured.

    Differences between gecko and lizard

    Geckos are reptiles that, like lizards, represent a separate family. Some species of gecko are mistakenly called lizards. These include the leopard lizard, which hides the Pakistani fat-tailed gecko. Although geckos and lizards are related, they differ in many ways.

    lizards geckos
    order scale reptiles scale reptiles
    way of life diurnal predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal
    eggs often parchment-like calcareous
    eyelids present miss
    distribution variable warm climate regions

    Differences between lizard and salamander

    Salamanders are amphibians adapted to life above and below the water surface. The tailed amphibians are thus only distantly related to the lizards, although their appearance is similar in many respects. Salamanders do not have fin rims. Its body is elongated and has a long tail.

    Unlike lizards, salamanders do not have scales. They are protected by a smooth skin. The amphibians also have the ability to regenerate tissue. However, this characteristic does not only refer to the tail. Salamanders are able to regenerate all limbs.

    Native species:

    • Fire salamander: spotted black and yellow
    • Alpine salamander: lacquer black
    • Alpine newt: blue back, flanks dotted with black and white

    The fire salamander also occurs in our latitudes

    keeping as a pet

    Exotic lizards are often kept in terrariums because of their exciting way of life and their different colors. Keeping them requires a lot of expertise and special food so that the animals can be offered a species-appropriate habitat. They come from completely different climatic regions. These conditions must be ensured at home.

    Pitiusan Lizard

    The diurnal lizard feeds on insects and arthropods. It also eats leftover food and plant parts. This lizard is particularly attractive because of its back coloring. The males develop bright blue hues with green tinges. The species is strictly protected. Only a few owners breed the animals legally.

    Six-striped long-tailed lizard

    This species is recognizable by its disproportionately long tail, which accounts for about 5/6 of the total body length. The males usually have white flanks and black vertical stripes, the coloration is variable and often includes shades of brown. There are some populations with light green flanks.

    Blue saw-tailed lizard

    The lizard, which is up to twelve centimeters long, has a cream-colored back with a black pattern. The species is named for its conspicuous tail, which is blue on top and has black transverse bands. It lives in bush land and forests, whereby the animals prefer to stay on tree trunks. In their natural range, flying specimens can be observed more often. Due to their strongly flattened body, the reptiles are able to glide over short distances.

    Only buy animals from trusted breeders! Many lizards are protected, so proof of origin is necessary.

    Arts and Culture

    The reptiles are popular motifs for decorative elements, tattoos, clip art and coloring pages. Lizards stand as a metal figure in the garden and serve as a template for pieces of jewellery. The animals have a special symbolic power, which always impresses people.

    Maori lizard

    In Polynesian cultures, the lizard is seen as an apparition of the gods. She can symbolize both good and evil powers. In Maori mythology, the lizard represents an emissary of the god Whiro. It is the god of the dead, who embodies evil and is the ruler of darkness. He inspires people to do evil deeds.

    When other gods wanted to kill a human, they let a lizard enter the body. Despite this, the Maori regarded the lizard as a guardian and protector. The power animal has retained this meaning to this day. Elaborate wood carvings serve as lucky charms, intended to protect the wearer.

    dream interpretation

    The lizard is a common symbol in dreams, the meaning of which can vary depending on the individual context. The reptile often stands for a turning point in various life situations that leads to improvement. But lizards also have a warning task in the dream world. The color of the animal is also important.

    What the color says:

    • green lizards: Misunderstandings
    • gray reptiles: Quarrels and troubles
    • colorful lizards: variability and adaptability

    films and comedies

    Because of their characteristics and way of life, lizards are often used as characters in films. Bill the Lizard is a fictional character from the children's book Alice in Wonderland who does the hard work for the white rabbit. The figure is a reference to the nimble characteristics of the lizards.

    In Helge Schneider's comedy "00 Schneider - Im Tropic of the Lizard" the character Jean-Claude Pillemann appears, who is called "the lizard" because of his hissing hissing noise and his supple mobility.

    constellation

    The Lizard constellation consists of a chain of stars that shine only faintly. It lies between the swan and the prominent constellation Cassiopeia.In the northern area it is crossed by the Milky Way. In 1929, an object was observed in the lizard whose brightness changes irregularly. Later, researchers found that this object is an active galactic nucleus (AGN).

    literature and history

    Some past events damaged the positive image people have of the lizard. A use of the name for warships, deterrent descriptions in the literature or species protection discussions from the recent past ensured that the lizard is associated with negative ideas.

    Yellow Spotted Lizard from "Holes"

    The novel by Louis Sachar dates from 1988 and describes a lizard whose bite ends fatally. She lives by a dry lake in the middle of a karst inland desert in Texas. But the animal described does not belong to the lizard family. Behind it is the Gila Monster, which lives in hot, dry desert areas. It has venom glands on its lower jaw and is able to kill its prey with one bite.

    Stuttgart 21

    The lizard caused a stir in the Stuttgart 21 construction project. Thousands of wall lizards live on the gravel areas and embankments of old railway lines in the Stuttgart city area. In the course of the construction work, many of these habitats have already been destroyed. Substitute habitats are intended to offer the animals a new habitat, but the species protection requirements repeatedly come up for discussion because their implementation seems almost impossible.

    German LSM "Lizard Class"

    The LSM class (English: Landing Ship Medium) was a landing ship class whose ships could accommodate troops and vehicles. Some of these ships got additional names like crocodile, lizard, salamander and viper. They were grouped together as the Lizard class. Today there are model kits from Revell for the original lizard.

    Funny facts

    The "lizard peeling treatment" is an ointment that contains salicylic acid, allantonin and vaseline. It is used to combat corns, calluses and calluses and has little to do with the reptile apart from the name.

    In the Little Alchemy game, the lizard can be formed from the Swamp and Egg resources. Combine them with shoes to create a salamander.

    In Saarland, pallet trucks used to transport pallets are also called lizards. Elsewhere, the devices are referred to as ants.

    Even in yoga there is the lizard. This pose denotes a hip opener that strengthens the core and mobilizes the hip joints.

    frequently asked Questions

    Do lizards lay eggs?

    Most lizards are oviparous, i.e. they lay eggs. The eggs are not hatched by the lizards. They lay the eggs in a hole in the ground and let the sun incubate them.

    There are some exceptions like the wood lizard. They belong to the viviparous reptiles, whereby the young animals are covered by a soft egg membrane immediately after birth. It can take a few minutes to several hours for the reptiles to free themselves from the egg skin. This behavior is described as ovoviviparous. More rarely, the shell is pierced in the womb. This phenomenon describes the actual viviparity.

    How many species are found in Germany?

    Of the approximately 300 species from 40 genera, only five species occur in Germany:

    • wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)
    • Wood Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
    • sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
    • Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata)
    • Eastern green lizard (Lacerta viridis)

    One reason for the Germany-wide distribution of the wood lizard is that the young animals are born alive. The reptiles are less dependent on long-term sun exposure than related species, whose eggs need constant sun exposure. With the eggs in the abdomen, the wood lizard can colonize cooler habitats, which is why the species is also found in Scandinavia.

    Why are there so few species in Germany?

    Lizards are cold-blooded animals that cannot regulate their body temperature independently. They use heat from the sun to increase their body temperature. In Germany, temperatures are too low for most species.

    Why are lizards smaller in the north than in tropical regions?

    Exotic giant lizards live in special habitats found in the Canary Islands. In contrast, native species are true mini editions. This has to do with the temperature, because all reptiles are cold-blooded and need the sun to warm up.

    It is more advantageous for cold-blooded animals to be smaller in colder regions. They can use the limited heat more effectively if their body volume is as small as possible and the body surface area in relation to volume is as large as possible. Therefore, the species have adapted their size to the distribution areas in the course of evolution.

    What is the name of the lizard in other languages?

    In some languages, the term for the lizard was derived from the scientific name Lacertidae, which stands for the lizard family:

    This is what the lizard is called:

    • Turkish: kertenkele
    • Spanish: lagarto
    • Italian: lucertola
    • English: lizard

Category:

Animals in the garden