Only One Ireland: reptile

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Only 1 native reptile, plus 1 recent arrival

Ireland has only one native reptile, the common lizard. While thought to be widespread in Ireland, to confirm this and pinpoint their most frequented habitats, the Irish Wildlife Trust is doing a National Lizard Survey. Anyone can take part - just don't confuse it with the smooth newt!

Slow worms were introduced to Ireland
Our second reptile, the slow worm (a legless lizard) is a recent arrival to Ireland. Many sources still claim that it is absent from Ireland, but it has been spotted in parts of the Burren in Co. Clare. It is a protected species in the UK.

Find out what the BBC say about the common lizard and the slow worm

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Ireland's native reptile, the common lizard

Despite being partial to open, sunny, undisturbed and well drained habitats, Ireland's native common lizard thrives particularly well on Irish bogs. It also likes rough grassland, open woodland, woodland edges, sea cliffs, sand dunes, dry-stone walls, hedgerows, roadside verges, railway embankments, disused quarries or sandpits, suburban wasteland and golf courses. Not a fussy one is our lizard!

Our lovely lizard is a protected species
It was added to the species listed on Fifth Schedule of the Wildlife Act 1976 and Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 following the enactment of the Wildlife Act 1976 (Protection of Wild Animals) Regulations 1980. This means it receives full protection under Section 23 of the Wildlife Act 1976 and Section 31 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. Together these prohibit the hunting, taking or killings of common lizards and wilful interference or destruction of their breeding places or resting places.

The island of ireland

Once upon a time, and for 15000 years, ice a mile high blanketed Ireland. When the lingering Ice Age finally released and the Irish ice departed it left a landscape scoured. Across land bridges linking Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe plants and animals arrived to colonise the new lowlands, mountains and valleys. The world’s ice continued to melt, the sea levels to rise, and some 8000 years ago Ireland became the island we now know, accounting for just 0.01% of the world's total land area and the most westerly point of Europe.

Though at Alaskan latitudes, the country's climate is tempered, due partly to the neighbouring waters of the Gulf Stream and partly the prevailing southwesterlies that veering and backing make landfall on our sodden coast. These offerings from the Atlantic mean it is never too hot, never too cold. But without doubt it is wet. Rain lingers year round, never far away, though is most frequent in winter, the western counties and, inevitably, on the day of your parade.