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| Timon Lepidus |
The
Ocellated Lizard, Eyed Lizard or Jewelled Lacerta in the pet trade is a species
of wall. Timon Lepidus is one of the largest members of its family. The adult
is 30 to 60 cm long and may reach up to 90 cm, weighing more than 0.5 kg. About
two-thirds of its length is tail. Newly hatched young are 4 to 5 cm long,
excluding tail.This is a robust lizard with a serrated collar. The male has a
characteristic broad head. It has thick, strong legs, with long, curved claws.
The dorsal background colour is usually green, but sometimes grey or brownish,
especially on the head and tail. This is overlaid with black stippling that may
form a bold pattern of interconnected rosettes. The underside is yellowish or
greenish. The male is brighter in colour than the female and has blue spots on
its flanks; there are fewer or none in the female. Young are green, grey, or
brown, with yellowish or white, often black-edged, spots all over.
More information: CRARC
This reptile
is found in various wild and cultivated habitats from sea level up to 2100 metres in the Iberian lands. It is rare at higher altitudes. It prefers dry, bushy areas,
such as open woodland and scrub, old olive groves and vineyards, and is
sometimes found on more open, rocky or sandy areas. It can occasionally be seen
basking on roadsides. The lizard usually stays on the ground, but climbs well
on rocks and in trees. It can dig holes and sometimes uses abandoned rabbit
burrows.
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| Timon Lepidus |
This lizard feeds mainly on large insects, especially beetles, and
also robs birds’ nests and occasionally takes reptiles, frogs, and small
mammals. It also eats fruit and other plant matter, especially in dry areas.
Breeding
occurs in late spring or early summer. Males are territorial in spring and
fight in the breeding season. The female lays up to 22 eggs in June and July
about three months after mating, hiding them under stones and logs or in leaf
litter or in loose damp soil. It tends to lay fewer, larger eggs in dry areas.
The eggs hatch in eight to 14 weeks. The lizard is sexually mature at two years
of age.
Last August, a pair of this species of lizard was released in Sant
Ramon Mountain in Sant Boi de Llobregat. This species had disappeared because of the last
fires in 2005 and 2006. The CRARC (Centre de
Recuperació d’Amfibis i Rèptils de Catalunya) is working to reintroduce it in
this zone. Previously, this species had been released in the range of
Montserrat.
I love all animals. I have a fascination with fish, birds,
whales -sentient life- insects, reptiles.
Nicolas Cage
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