Common Wall Lizard.......and why it's not a Gecko!

Common Wall Lizard

All images taken with my Nikon D500 body and various Nikon lenses

Common Wall Lizard emerging from its hole in an earth bank. Note its visible outer ear and movable eyelid.  

By far the most common lizard in France, the Common Wall Lizard is extremely varied in colour depending on region and locality. They are rarely more than 20 cm and have an elongated appearance, largely as a result of their thin tail, which can be half, or more, of their total length. Males tend to be more colourful than females, which are often a drab brown.

Enjoying the sun!

Present in all regions of France, they prefer open, sunny areas with little vegetation, old stone walls, quarries, roadsides and tracks, frequently to be seen near to old houses where they can be seen scurrying away when approached. Superb climbers, they also swim with ease and can sometimes be seen lying in warm, shallow pools.

Common Wall Lizards are inquisitive creatures

Hibernation is from November until April and is often interrupted during warmer spells. Breeding starts immediately after hibernation with frequent combats between males. Females lay between 2 and 10 eggs, up to three times in a season, in soft soil or under rocks, these hatch after about 2 months.

and why it's not a Gecko............

Many people refer to these little Lizards as Geckos due to their small size, but they are in fact a completely different creature. Lizards and geckos do have many similarities in their appearance. Both of the animals have four legs and are cold blooded and both of them have species that are able to change color to blend in with their environment. However, there are still differences. Lizards usually have dry and scaly skin while a gecko will have thin skin with small bumps on it. Lizards also have external ears and moveable eyelids, while geckos only have a transparent membrane over their eyes that they lick clean. Lizards also have claws, whereas Geckos usually have specialised pads on their toes, which help them easily climb smooth vertical surfaces and even walk on ceilings!

Another difference between lizards and geckos is the fact that unlike most other types of lizards, geckos are nocturnal, which means that they sleep during the day and come out at night to hunt. Geckos primarily hunt and eat various types of insects such as mosquitos, moths, cockroaches, etc. Whereas, the diet of lizards is varied depending on their species. It may include vegetables, fruits and insects.

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