Iberian emerald lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iberian emerald lizard |
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| Iberian emerald lizard male on the back, female on the front | |
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Lacerta
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| Species: |
schreiberi
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The Iberian emerald lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) is a cool type of lizard found only in the Iberian Peninsula. This means it lives naturally in just one special place: the countries of Portugal and Spain. It's also sometimes called Schreiber's green lizard.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name, schreiberi, was given to honor a famous Austrian zoologist named Egid Schreiber. He wrote an important book about reptiles in Europe back in 1875.
In Portugal, people call this lizard Lagarto-de-água, which means "water lizard." In Spain, it's known as lagarto verdinegro, meaning "green and black lizard." These names describe where it lives or what it looks like!
Where Does it Live?
You can find the Iberian emerald lizard in the western parts of the Iberian Peninsula. This includes many areas in both Portugal and Spain.
Its Home and Habitat
This lizard loves to live in places with lots of plants and water. Its favorite homes are:
- Temperate forests (forests that aren't too hot or too cold)
- Areas with shrublands (bushes and small trees)
- Mediterranean-type shrubby areas
- Near rivers
- In pastureland (fields where animals graze)
Why is it in Danger?
The Iberian emerald lizard is considered "Near Threatened." This means it could become endangered in the future. The biggest problem it faces is habitat loss. This happens when the places where it lives are destroyed or changed, often by human activities like building or farming. Protecting its natural home is very important to help these lizards survive.
What Does it Look Like?
This is a fairly large lizard! From its snout (nose) to its vent (where its tail starts), it measures about 13.5 centimeters (about 5.3 inches). When you include its long tail, the Iberian emerald lizard can be about 38 centimeters (about 15 inches) long!
What Does it Eat?
The Iberian emerald lizard is mostly an insect-eater. This means its main diet is insects. However, it's also a bit of a hunter and will sometimes eat smaller lizards, like the iberian wall lizard, or even larger psammodromus lizards.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The Iberian emerald lizard is oviparous, which means it lays eggs. When a female lizard lays her eggs, it's called a clutch. A female Iberian emerald lizard can lay anywhere from 11 to 28 eggs in one clutch!
Images for kids
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Male Iberian emerald lizard
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A young (juvenile) Iberian emerald lizard
