Animal Kingdom

Chordate Phylum: Reptiles: The common wall lizard

This lizard is found throughout most of southern Europe and the Near East. It can grow to about 20 cm long (including the tail). It is often found living on the walls of houses where it hunts insects. These lizards like high temperatures so they are found most active at the hottest time of the day. When they are attacked they can lose their tail which carries on wriggling in the grip of the predator! Lizards can grow a new tail but it is never as long as the original one.

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© Paul Billiet, Shirley Burchill, Alan Damon and Deborah James 2009