Christmas Day basking!

[robpilley]

Hi all

long time since my last post. Just wanted to say that despite our so far cold winter, I have seen some lizards out basking as the day times are quite sunny and warm (following freezing open skys at night).
On christmas day i wandered out into the garden and saw 5 Podarcis muralis, 3 Podarcis sicula, 1 Podarcis pityusensis, 1 Timon lepidus, 4 Lacerta trilineata and 2 L schreiberi as well as 2 trilineata in the greenhouse and 2 L media (as well as various agamas, fence lizards and cordylus in the greenouse too).
Amazing to see animals out basking so late in the year, then again on clear blue sky days it does get warm in the enclosures.

Rob

[barb1]

Wow, what a surprise! Remind us where you live? I thought the Greens hunkered down comatose unlike the Eyed who are brumators. I guess we worry too much.

Happy New Year,

Barb.

[robpilley]

Im near Bristol.
The bilineata are nowhere to be seen (same as agilis) but trilins pop up if it gets warms enough, same as Podarcis or juveniles of any Lacertas (smaller body size allows quick warming up even at low temps).

Rob

[barb1]

Interesting Rob. What is the difference between Bilineata and Trilineata? Is it just the region they come from? Do you do study on your reptiles?
Barb.

[robpilley]

Despite looking similar, trilineata and bilineata are very different animals (and genetically very distant as their offspring are 100% infertile). Bilineata is very much a central european species whereas trilineata are from the south east- their centre of distribution being Turkey and Greece. They look similar but are very different animals.

Rob

[barb1]

I assume 100% infertile, you mean a x between the two types.
I am hoping to get some Greens this spring if they survive their first winter. I had the Green Lizard many decades ago. Of course back then we did not know all the things reptiles require to stay healthy but it was my introduction to the European Lacerta, other than our natives which really fascinate me.