David
Leaf Cutter Ant 
Posts: 74
|
Post by David on Jul 21, 2012 19:04:48 GMT
I saw this lovely looking creature whilst gardening in a beautiful garden near loch Tay in Perthshire, Scotland. I thought it was worth sharing with you. I believe it is the British common lizard. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 21, 2012 19:19:09 GMT
It looks like a female that may be gravid with eggs from the plump appearance of the body, and it also looks like a new tail growing as many lizards will lose their tail deliberately if grabbed by a predator. Nice photo David  |
|
David
Leaf Cutter Ant
Posts: 74
|
Post by David on Jul 21, 2012 19:35:06 GMT
Yes I was of the same opinion regarding the tail. It doesn't seem to match with the body of the lizard. I was delighted to see this critter as it was the first I have seen. I was even happier to get a photo!! |
|
|
|
Post by IceWhyte on Jul 22, 2012 0:26:25 GMT
I see quite a lot of them lizards here. This one is is definately full of babies  |
|
|
|
Post by batspiderfish on Jul 22, 2012 4:10:02 GMT
Waitwaitwaitwait... You have lizards in the British Isles?
|
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 22, 2012 7:51:32 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by batspiderfish on Jul 22, 2012 10:57:00 GMT
Interesting! I don't believe there is a single species of lizard which exists as far north as I do in the United States. There certainly aren't any venomous snakes, either.
|
|
|
|
Post by IceWhyte on Jul 22, 2012 13:44:58 GMT
I have never seen a sand lizard before but see the other two now and again. Yesterday I flipped a couple of rocks to see if there was still winged ants about and I found saw loads of young slow worms together with the ants.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 22, 2012 13:52:13 GMT
Interesting! I don't believe there is a single species of lizard which exists as far north as I do in the United States. There certainly aren't any venomous snakes, either. The only venomous snake we have is the Adder or Viper, one of which glided across my foot once. These only bite if annoyed and their bite isn't deadly unless you happen to be very allergic to the poison, as deaths from Adder bites are extremely rare. Anti-venom is carried in all British hospitals for this, but here in Britain you are more likely to be stung by a wasp than bitten by an Adder as they are very shy snakes and move away from noise made by heavy human feet. ;D I have never seen a sand lizard before but see the other two now and again. Yesterday I flipped a couple of rocks to see if there was still winged ants about and I found saw loads of young slow worms together with the ants. I have often found slow worms in Myrmica rubra nests, but they tend to avoid large Formica rufa mounds preferring open sandy heathland. As do the many sand lizards Jen and I have seen just north of the downs. |
|
|
|
Post by batspiderfish on Jul 22, 2012 15:05:21 GMT
The stings and bites of Myrmica rubra are probably completely ineffective against them, although I imagine formic acid could make them quite uncomfortable.
|
|
