the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles
Home Page Live Forums Archived Forums Site Search Identify Record Donate Projects Links
Forum Home Forum Home > Herpetofauna Native to the UK > Sand Lizard
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Dorset lizards showing
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Dorset lizards showing

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
Rags View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Dec 2011
Location: Dorset
Status: Offline
Points: 133
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Dorset lizards showing
    Posted: 10 Apr 2015 at 9:33am

9th April.
The recent few warm and sunny days have resulted in some very bright and perky adult males. Also the males and females are beginning to pair up.




Back to Top
Rags View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Dec 2011
Location: Dorset
Status: Offline
Points: 133
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2015 at 11:28pm
Well SteveA.  I feel you may have trumped me good.

But don't reach for the pot yet...

My 'little fella' was photographed on 27th February 2015.



(You got me on the Common lizards though!)




Back to Top
SteveA View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 53
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2015 at 10:49am
Well Done RAGS,

In order to balance my annoyance at not finding the first Sand Lizard of the year! I shall trump your picture with this little fella enjoying yesterdays sunshine. In addition had two adults and loads of common lizards, though they were a bit to active to snap.
Back to Top
will View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1830
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Mar 2015 at 5:22pm
good stuff - maybe more about by the end of the week if the weather forecast is to be believedCool
Back to Top
Rags View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Dec 2011
Location: Dorset
Status: Offline
Points: 133
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Mar 2015 at 12:16pm
After checking this morning, Sand lizards now out at a second site in the area.
Back to Top
will View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1830
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 9:18am
I'm guessing it's an energy budget thing; maybe there just isn't enough food to give them a decent chance of survival in the coming winter, whereas going underground in late summer / early autumn makes more sense energy-wise. I wonder if this links in with the 'adders underground' thread - ie perhaps it remains cooler than one might think below ground on the heaths. I do think this is a genuine phenomenon rather than observer bias, given that autumn is a great time for spotting other reptile species on the heath (including smooth snakes) and also hatchling sandies.
Back to Top
Rags View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Dec 2011
Location: Dorset
Status: Offline
Points: 133
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 7:59am
An interesting point raised here. I will have to pay more attention to the final sightings of the year, as well as the first.

It certainly seems that they just drop off the radar quite early on. I thought maybe the increased vegetation cover meant they were harder to see.

As Suzy asks, "What would be the advantages to the species in doing that?" ?
Back to Top
will View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1830
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 6:54am
A very good Q! it has been suggested that it protects the hatchlings from their cannibalistic parents, but this argument is species-selection/group selectionist and doesn't hold water. This is because any adult that 'decided' to stay above ground would be able to feed up on the hatchlings and its genes would be passed on more effectively into the next generation, ie the 'hawk' strategy would triumph over the 'doves'. So there must be an advantage to the individual lizard in terms of its own lifetime reproductive success, but it does seem strange since there's often a glut of insects on the heath in September (crane flies etc). We need an expert on this - over to Chris??
Back to Top
Suzy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1447
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 11:50pm
Will why would they hibernate mid August? Seems incredibly early, and lots of hot weather still possible - likely even! What would be the advantages to the species in doing that?
Suz
Back to Top
will View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1830
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 6:14pm
interesting that La are early to bed for the year (mid August in some cases) and also early to rise the following spring.  I usually expect Zv out and about along with the first Vb, but as yet haven't seen any Zv in spite of apparently suitable weather.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.06
Copyright ©2001-2016 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.125 seconds.