Lizards have fascinated people for thousands of years. The animals have an extraordinary way of life and are tied to special habitats. But the reptiles are endangered by the constant decline in their habitats. With simple measures you can protect native species and establish them in your garden.
Lizards in German gardens
If you want to settle lizards in the garden, you need to create a diverse mosaic of different habitats. The reptiles find good living conditions in environments that are as natural as possible, although each species has individual requirements. The more species-rich the garden is, the more comfortable not only lizards but also insects feel. In this way you create a varied food supply for the new garden residents.
Lizards feel at home here:
- Stones with all-day tanning
- vegetation-free roadsides
- Dead wood with hiding places
- dense brambles
- loose sandy soil
These lizards occur in our gardens in Germany:
Wall Lizard
With dry stone walls, rock gardens or piles of stones, you offer this species an ideal basis for life. The sunnier and warmer the habitat, the more comfortable the wall lizard feels. She hides between stones or in cracks in walls, where she lays her eggs from March to June. During this time, the stone landscapes should remain untouched in order not to disturb the animals or damage the clutch.
Sand Lizard
Leave part of your garden to natural flow so that a wild and natural habitat will emerge after a short time. The sand lizard feels particularly comfortable here. You can completely stop care in this area. Between March and October, the areas should not be disturbed so that the reptiles are not scared away. With small walls or piles of stones you can offer the species optimal places to sunbathe.
Tip
When you mow the remaining lawn areas, you should mow them in strips. This means that the lizards still have enough protective areas when they cross the lawn.
Emerald Lizards
The species prefer to live on slopes, with wetter habitats being preferred. Allow sloping water edges, south-facing terraced slopes or hollows to grow wild so that natural vegetation develops. The more structured the vegetation is, the better living conditions the reptiles find. Dry stone walls and piles of reading stones offer good sun spots and hiding places.
Particularly suitable habitats:
- Semi-dry lawn with bushes
- Groom heaths and brambles
- Meadows with sloes
- Orchard meadows
Forest Lizard
The species prefers habitats rich in vegetation with different layers. It feels particularly comfortable in border communities and inhabits forest clearings and embankments. Since forest 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 broken up with piles of stones provide 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 yellow colored underparts. An orange belly indicates that the male is ready to mate. In rare cases the belly is colored red.
Eidechsen im Garten
Background
Tail Drop
Lizards have a very long tail compared to the rest of their body, which they can throw off when threatened. There is a predetermined breaking point at the base of the tail, which breaks open through muscle contractions. The tail moves for a few minutes after it is shed. The movements attract the attention of predators, allowing the lizard to escape.
Lizards are able to regenerate their tails. This usually grows back in a shortened form. More than 300 genes are involved in regeneration, which are normally responsible for wound healing or embryonic development. The tail does not grow back in one piece but in stages. It takes about 60 days for the cells along the resulting tail to form into tissue.
About the animal
Lizards are reptiles that belong to the scale reptiles. 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. Reptiles grow significantly older in captivity than in the wild. Sand lizards can live up to twelve years in a terrarium, although in the wild the animals usually do not live past six years.
Species
The around 300 different species of lizards occur from Europe to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. They inhabit tropical and subtropical habitats in Africa. Lizards are missing on the Australian and American continents. There are large species that can reach almost a meter in length. Small animals are as large as the distance between the thumb and little finger in an outstretched 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 collar covered with scales 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, sticky toes, or dorsal crests.
Lizards develop sexual dimorphism. The males are more vividly colored than the females, whose bodies are better camouflaged with inconspicuous colors and patterns. In some species, such as the wood lizard, the belly changes color so that the male appears more attractive to females.
Excursus
Dragon Lizard
The correct name for this reptile is giant girdletail (Smaug giganteus). The German common name is misleading because 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 truly looks like a mini dragon
Skeleton
The animals' body structure is very slim, which gives them great maneuverability. The reptiles are divided into head, body and tail. Your skeleton has a spine that supports the body. The skull can be distinguished from other reptiles by the symmetrical shields on the top. A zygomatic arch and covered temple openings are characteristic. Lizards have a so-called pleurodont dentition, in which the teeth sit rootless on a ridge in the jaw. There are two to four cusps on the side teeth.
Locomotion
The animals move by wriggling their bodies and moving their limbs. Because of this meandering, crawling way of locomotion, lizards are classified as reptiles, also known as reptiles.
Reproduction and lifestyle
The mating season for domestic reptiles extends between March and July. The males secrete a waxy substance from their glandular scales located on their thighs. Once they have found the right partner, they both perform 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 prior fertilization.
This is what young forest lizards look like:
- 30 to 40 millimeters long
- dark bronze
- Black coloration remains partially in older animals (“blacklings”)
Enemies
Young animals are on the menu of various animals. They are hunted and preyed upon by smaller songbirds such as robins. Beetles can also be dangerous to the newly hatched lizards. The enemies of the adults include birds of prey and kestrels. Crows and storks also hunt for lizards. Some of them fall victim to the hunting instinct of domestic cats.
Where lizards live
The reptiles prefer habitats that offer predominantly 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, holes in the ground or rock crevices. In the dense vegetation, lizards seek protection from too much heat. Their scales enable the lizards to live independently of water.
| Food | habitat | |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Lizard | small insects, spiders | Heaths, moors, forest edges, meadows |
| Wall Lizard | Insects, spiders | Drystone walls, rocks |
| Sand Lizard | Insects, spiders, worms | densely overgrown forest edges and heaths |
| Emerald Lizards | Snails, larger insects, spiders, small vertebrates | vegetated slopes with moist soil |
Wintering
In August the males go to their winter quarters. Females retire in September while the young remain active until October. Before winter begins, the reptiles look for a safe hiding place between tree roots, in rock crevices and holes in the ground or in cavities under stone slabs and dead wood. If there are no suitable options for retreat, lizards dig their own burrows.
In winter, lizards go into hibernation. Unlike hibernation, hibernation is only influenced by the outside temperature. When the air temperature drops, the body temperature equalizes.
How lizards survive the winter:
- open eyes
- Heartbeat and breathing slow down
- no movements possible
- no food intake
What lizards eat
The lizards' diet mainly consists of worms and insects such as mosquitoes and flies. They eat arthropods and do not disdain seeds or fruit. Some species feed on small invertebrates.
Tip
Sow small strips of wildflowers in the meadow and create perennial beds to increase biodiversity. The compost heap is also part of the lizard's habitat, as many insects live here.
Prey Catch
The lizards' prey-catching behavior is impressive. They lie in wait to spot their prey. Once they have targeted an insect, the reptiles begin to flick their tongues. The tongue slides out and in of the mouth in quick movements. Lizards can use their tongue to pick up smells from prey and pass them on to a sensory organ located in the oral cavity. The lizards grab their prey by jumping. She is crushed by jaw movements before being devoured.
Differences between gecko and lizard
Geckos are reptiles that, like lizards, form their own family. Some gecko species are incorrectly referred to as lizards. This includes the leopard lizard, behind which the Pakistani fat-tailed gecko hides. Although geckos and lizards are related, they differ in many ways.
| Lizards | Geckos | |
|---|---|---|
| Order | Scaly reptiles | Scaly reptiles |
| Lifestyle | diurnal | mainly active at dusk and at night |
| Eggs | often parchment-like | calcareous |
| Eyelids | available | missing |
| Dissemination | variable | warm climate regions |
Differences between lizard and salamander
Salamanders are amphibians that are adapted to life above and below the surface of the water. The tailed amphibians are therefore only distantly related to the lizards, although their appearance is similar in many respects. Salamanders do not have fin edges. Her body is elongated and has a long tail.
Unlike lizards, salamanders do not have scales. They are protected by smooth skin. Amphibians also have the ability to regenerate tissue. However, this characteristic does not only apply to the tail. Salamanders are able to regenerate all limbs.
Native species:
- Fire salamander: black-yellow spotted
- Alpine salamander: lacquer black
- Alpine newt: blue back, flanks black and white dots
The fire salamander also occurs in our latitudes
Keeping as a pet
Because of their exciting lifestyle and different colors, exotic lizards are often kept in terrariums. Keeping them requires a lot of specialist knowledge 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.
Pityus 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 color. The males develop bright blue hues with a green tinge. The species is considered strictly protected. Only a few owners breed the animals legally.
Six-striped long-tailed lizard
This species can be recognized by its disproportionately long tail, which is about 5/6 of the total body length. The males usually have white flanks and black longitudinal stripes, although the coloring is variable and often includes shades of brown. There are some populations with light green flanks.
Blue saw-tailed lizard
The lizard, up to twelve centimeters long, has a cream-colored back with black patterns. The species gets its name from the striking tail, which is colored blue on the top and has black cross bands. It lives in bushland and forests, with the animals preferring to stay on tree trunks. Flying specimens can often be observed in their natural range. Thanks to their strongly flattened bodies, 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.
Art and Culture
The reptiles are popular motifs for decorative elements, tattoos, clipart and coloring pictures. Lizards stand as metal figures in the garden and serve as a template for jewelry. The animals have a special symbolic power, which always impresses people.
Maori Lizard
In Polynesian cultures, the lizard is considered an apparition of the gods. It 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 ruler of darkness. He inspires people to do evil deeds.
When other gods wanted to kill a person, they let a lizard enter the body. Nevertheless, the Maori viewed the lizard as a guardian and protector. The spirit animal has retained this meaning to this day. Ornate wood carvings serve as lucky charms that are 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 represents a turning point in various life situations that leads to improvement. Lizards also have a warning role in the dream world. The color of the animal is also important.
What the color says:
- green lizards: misunderstandings
- gray reptiles: arguments and anger
- colorful lizards: variability and adaptability
Film adaptations and comedies
Lizards are often used as characters in films because of their characteristics and lifestyle. 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 based on the nimble characteristics of lizards.
In Helge Schneider's comedy "00 Schneider - In the Tropic of the Lizard" the character Jean-Claude Pillemann appears, who is called "the lizard" because of his hissing hisses and his supple mobility.
Constellation
The Lizard constellation consists of a chain of stars that only glow faintly. It lies between the Swan and the striking constellation Cassiopeia. In the northern area it is crossed by the Milky Way. In 1929, an object whose brightness changed irregularly was observed in the lizard. Researchers later found that this object is an active nucleus of a galaxy (Active Galactic Nucleus, or AGN for short).
Literature and History
Some past events have damaged the positive image people have of the lizard. The use of the name for warships, frightening descriptions in literature or species protection discussions from the recent past have ensured that the lizard is associated with negative ideas.
Yellow spotted lizard from “Holes”
Louis Sachar's novel dates from 1988 and describes a lizard whose bite ends fatally. She lives on 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 crusted lizard, which lives in dry, hot desert areas. It has poison glands on its lower jaw and is able to kill its prey with a 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. Many of these habitats have already been destroyed in the course of construction work. Replacement habitats are intended to offer the animals a new living space, but the species protection requirements are repeatedly discussed because their implementation seems almost impossible.
German LSM “Lizard Class”
The LSM class (English: Landing Ship Medium) was a class of landing ship whose ships could accommodate troops and vehicles. Some of these ships were given additional names such as Crocodile, Lizard, Salamander and Viper. They were grouped together as a class of lizards. Today there are model kits from Revell for the original lizard.
Fun Facts
The “Lizard Peeling Treatment” is an ointment that contains not only salicylic acid but also allantonin and petroleum jelly. It is used to combat corns, calluses and calluses and has little to do with the reptile apart from the name.
In the game Little Alchemy, 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 ant.
Even in yoga there is a lizard. This pose is a hip opener that strengthens the core and mobilizes the hip joints.
Frequently asked questions
Do lizards lay eggs?
The majority of all 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 hatch them.
There are some exceptions like the wood lizard. They belong to the viviparous reptiles, with the young animals being 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 membrane. This behavior is described as ovoviviparous. It is rarer for the shell to be pierced in the womb. This phenomenon describes actual vivipary.
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)
- Forest lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
- Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
- Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata)
- Eastern green lizard (Lacerta viridis)
One reason for the wood lizard's distribution throughout Germany is that the young animals are born alive. The reptiles are less dependent on long-term sunlight than related species whose eggs need constant sunlight. With the eggs in its stomach, the forest 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 the sun's heat to increase the temperature of their bodies. In Germany the 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 that can be found on the Canary Islands. On the other hand, native species are truly 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 is as large as possible in relation to the volume. Therefore, over the course of evolution, species have adapted their size to their distribution areas.
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 family of true lizards:
This is the name of the lizard:
- Turkish: kertenkele
- Spanish: lagarto
- Italian: lucertola
- English: lizard
