Male and female sand lizards both reach between five to eight inches in length and weigh 0.35-0.5 ounces in weight; however, their coloration is different. The basic color of their bodies is a neutral color such as brown, grey, or beige. Depending on the subspecies, male sand lizards can be constantly bright green, or turn green only during the mating season to attract females.

Their impressive tail can make up 130-170% of the lizard’s body!

The sand lizard is a reptile that is found throughout Asia and Europe with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula and Turkey. They prefer coastal areas that are close to sandy heathlands or sand dunes.

After a day of sunbathing, the sand lizard is ready to hunt. These lizards are primarily carnivores, feeding on small invertebrates such as spiders, insects, and grasshoppers. These lizards will patiently wait for prey to come close, tracking them with their excellent eyesight, and then strike them with their powerful tongue. When food is scare during the winter, sand lizards will undergo brumation and remain dormant until the weather clears up.

During the spring, female sand lizards will mate with multiple males to ensure genetic diversity. She will make a loose nest in the sand and lay 4-14 eggs. The sandy location provides heat and successful incubation for the eggs for up to two months, which is when the eggs will hatch. The hatchlings are left to their own devices after birth since food is so plentiful at the end of summer.

Sand lizards belong to the family of wall lizards, which is a large group of the most commonly seen lizards in Europe. In fact, there are at least 300 species in the wall lizard family!

The main predators of the sand lizards are dogs, foxes, cats, and birds of prey. Like most other lizards, the sand lizard can detach its tail when trying to escape these predators.

Sand lizards like to bask in the sun to raise their body temperature and gain energy for the day. They’ll retreat to their underground borrows to escape the heat and hide from predators.