Viviparous Lizard: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Lizards · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. No other land reptile lives as far north as this small lizard. Its range even reaches into the subarctic.
2. True to its name, it usually gives birth to live babies instead of laying eggs, though some of these lizards do lay eggs.
3. In very cold winters, once it drops below -3 °C, this lizard can freeze solid, then thaw out when it warms up, often 2 months later.
4. This little lizard is Ireland's only native land reptile.
5. Females have yellow, orange or mixed bellies. Mixed females have the most babies, and yellow ones the fewest.

The quiz

1. What record does the viviparous lizard hold among land reptiles?

• It is the fastest
• It lives the farthest north (correct)
• It is the heaviest
• It lives the longest

It lives farther north than any other land reptile.

2. What does viviparous mean?

• Living in trees
• Eating only insects
• Giving birth to live young (correct)
• Active at night

It means giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs.

3. What can this lizard survive in very cold winters?

• Being frozen solid for weeks (correct)
• Swimming under ice
• Flying south
• Growing thick fur

It can freeze completely and thaw out when it warms up, often 2 months later.

4. In which country is the viviparous lizard the only native land reptile?

• Spain
• Italy
• Greece
• Ireland (correct)

It is Ireland's only native land reptile.

5. Which females have the most babies?

• Yellow-bellied ones
• Orange-bellied ones
• Ones with mixed yellow and orange bellies (correct)
• Green-bellied ones

Mixed females produce the most offspring, yellow ones the fewest.

More about the Viviparous Lizard

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries