Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => General Chat => Topic started by: Mourneman on May 12, 2012

Title: so what is it ?
Post by: Mourneman on May 12, 2012
On a recent Mourne walk i finally caught one of these wee creature's & i'am not sure of what it is,it's not like the common newt,which i came across before,can anybody help me with this?
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/7184253686_d709b23037_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79525903@N02/7184253686/)
DSCN3256 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79525903@N02/7184253686/) by anne1257 (http://www.flickr.com/people/79525903@N02/), on Flickr

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7229/7184257452_c1c45a493d_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79525903@N02/7184257452/)
DSCN3255 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79525903@N02/7184257452/) by anne1257 (http://www.flickr.com/people/79525903@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: so what is it ?
Post by: Spud on May 12, 2012
Common lizard John, they have different colours but I think they are all the same species, as I think there is only 1 species in Ireland but don't quote me on that lol
Title: Re: so what is it ?
Post by: chunk on May 13, 2012
looks like a common lizard to me.
did you eat it?
Title: Re: so what is it ?
Post by: Mourneman on May 13, 2012
Quote from: chunk on May 13, 2012
looks like a common lizard to me.
did you eat it?

What's it with you guy's,eating everything that moves,i'am afraid to blow my nose  :-X
Title: Re: so what is it ?
Post by: Daithi2004 on May 14, 2012
Good photos John. I have never seen these creature in this country before.
Title: Re: so what is it ?
Post by: sjh1 on May 14, 2012
Common or Viviparous Lizard. The only wild, native reptile in Ireland. It gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs like other reptiles, that's what viviparous means.

Watch out when you're picking them up, their tails can snap off to distract predators. They seem quite common in the Mournes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viviparous_lizard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viviparous_lizard)