Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Lacerta ("lizard") agilis ("agile")

Adult female Sand Lizard (subspecies L. a. agilis) at Non-public Site, UK - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Lacerta agilis agilis
Weight: 12g  /  Length: 25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Much larger and rarer than the common lizard, the Sand Lizard is a specialist of heath and dunes which feeds upon insects.  In breeding colours the males become bright green making them easy to tell apart from the always brown common lizards, but the pattern and size should differentiate them if you familiarise yourself with it.  They are a protected species only found in a limited number of sites in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Lacerta
SUBSPECIES: L .a. agilis, L. a. argus, L. a. exigua

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very rare and local resident

 - Several individuals from a reintroduction scheme seen on a site not known to the public

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List. RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Gliding Lizard (Draco sumatranus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Draco ("dragon") sumatranus ("of Sumatra")

Adult female Common Gliding Lizard (Draco sumatranus) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

While I've had trouble pinning down much specific information for this species, there is no doubt that for someone new to South East Asia, seeing any member of it's family is a novel experience indeed.  The flying lizards are a number of small ant and termite eating lizards that dwell in trees but the real fascinating features are the "wings" - a specially adapted set of ribs with a membrane stretched between that allows these tiny animals to glide long distances between trees.  My first encounter with one was entirely unexpected, and I only caught it out the corner of my eyes - a small coloured disc glided smmothly down and caught the edge of a tree just below me and when I looked I realised it was one of these lizards.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
GENUS: Draco
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - ?

A widespread but local resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen at Genting Highlands

SINGAPORE - A local resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

OTHER NAMES: Pacific House Gecko, House Gecko, Moon Lizard

Latin Etymology: Hemidactylus ("half toed") frenatus ("bridled")

Adult Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) at Service Station near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - July 2016

Local Name (Malaysia): Cicak
Weight: 2.5g  /  Length: 7-15cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common resident of Malaysia in addition to being one of the most common reptiles in the world in general due to invasive populations spread by ships throughout various tropical countries on every continent except Europe and Antarctica .  They are well adapted to urban living and can be found in buildings regularly, feeding on insects.  It's name in many languages is onomatopeic based on the call it makes.

Related Species: 
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Hemidactylus
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Cicak

A common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen in Malacca and surroundings 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Flat-tailed House Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus)

OTHER NAMES: House Gecko, Frilled House Gecko

Latin Etymology: Hemidactylus ("half toed") platyurus ("flat-tailed")

Adult Flat-tailed House Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus) at Service Station near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies - ?
Weight: 3.8g  /  Length: 14cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Flat-tailed House Gecko is a common species found throughout Malaysia in urban areas - for me it was the lizard species I saw the most often.  It was most numerous in a service station we stopped in on the way back from Malacca - a dining hall with many pillars and at each one would be sat a lizard, most of them of this species.  They are visually a very variable species and can come in patterns from a white-ish colour to a mottled pattern but maintain the flattened tail which gives them their name.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Hemidactylus
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - ?

A common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen in Malacca and surroundings 

SINGAPORE - A local resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Several at throughout.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)

OTHER NAMES: Water Monitor, Malayan Water Monitor, Rice Lizard

Latin Etymology: Varanus ("dragon/lizard beast") salvator ("saviour")

Adult Asian Water Monitor (subspecies V. s. macromaculatus) at Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Varanus salvator macromaculatus

Weight: 19.5kg  /  Length: 150-200cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Water Monitor is a huge species of lizard - the second largest of the entire family after the Komodo Dragon, and with a far bigger range spreading across all of Southern Asia from India to Indonesia.  They are powerful opportunistic predators which will feed on eggs and live small food.  As the name suggests, they are also powerful swimmers and spend much of their time in water - using their powerful tail to propell them.  I only saw them in Malacca, a single large adult on the first evening on a short walk, followed by a number of young ones on an early morning walk along the same route the next morning - basking on the rocks mere feet away from humans.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
SUBSPECIES: V. s. salvator, V. s. andamanensis, V. s. bivittatus, V. s. komaini, V. s. macromaculatus, V. s.ziegleri

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Biawak Air ("Water Lizard")

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several near the river mouth in Malacca

SINGAPORE - A common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen in many locations, particularly abundant atSungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus)

OTHER NAMES: Eyed Lizard, Jeweled Lacerta

Latin Etymology: Timon (?) lepidus ("neat" or "graceful")

Adult Occelated Lizard (subspecies T. l. lepidus) at Laguna Campillo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Timon lepidus lepidus
Weight: 500g  /  Length: 30-60cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The Ocellated Lizard is the largest lizard in Europe, a species found throughout Iberia and Southern France.  It is a fairly omnivorous species, primarily feeding on beetles but will more broadly feed on anything it can find including bird's eggs, small vertebrates and plant matter as required.  The way to differentiate the males from the females are the blue spots on the flanks, but this individual wasn't interested in showing itself well

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Timon
SUBSPECIES: T. l. ibericus, T. l. lepidus, T. l. nevadensis, T. l. oteroi 

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish -  Lagarto Ocelado ("Ocellated Lizard")

A widespread resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A single individual at Laguna Campillo


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Adder (Vipera berus)

OTHER NAMES: Adder, Common European Adder, Common Viper
Latin Etymology: Vipera ("viper") berus

Adult male Common Adder (subspecies V. b. berus) at Ketton Quarry Nature Reserve - May 2020

Featured Subspecies: Vipera berus berus 
Weight: 50-180g  /  Length: 60-90cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The common adder is something of an outlier in many ways; it shares with the Common Lizard the title of most Northerly reptile species, while also being the only venomous snake in the UK.  Despite it's negative reputation in the UK, it's a generally shy species that usually only attacks if cornered, otherwise it feeds on small animals as prey.  It's venom isn't as potent as other members of the vipers, and while there are recorded fatalities from their bites, this is usually only the case with already vulnerable people, although that doesn't mean the effects are pleasant!

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Vipera
SUBSPECIES: V. b. berus, V. b. bosniensis, V. b. sachalinensis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - a widely distributed, but scarce resident.

 - Seen at Ketton Quarry Nature Reserve in May 2020 and Weeting Heath in May 2013

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Striped Skink (Lipinia vittigera)

OTHER NAMES: Banded Lipinia, Yellow-striped Tree Skink
Latin Etymology: Lipinia vittigera

Adult Common Striped Skink (subspecies L. v. vittigera) at Angkor Thom, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Lipinia vittigera vittigera
Weight: ?  /  Length: 10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While we headed towards the ruins of Banteay Kdei, a slight dash of colour caught my eye on a nearby tree; this beautiful little skink.  Skinks are one of the more distinctive genuses of lizards; generally characterised by smooth features, comparatively short limbs and rounded faces.  This species was my first skink I'd seen and also the most colourful reptile I'd seen to date - I only got a few moments to enjoy it though as it very rapidly retreated to a tiny hole in the bark of the tree.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Lipinia
SUBSPECIES: L. v. vittigera, L. v. microcercum 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One near Angkor Thom

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata)

OTHER NAMES: East Indian Brown Mabuya, Many-lined Sun Skink, Golden Skink
Latin Etymology: Eutropis ("good keel") multifasciata ("multi-bundled")

Adult Common Sun Skink (subspecies E. m. multifasciata) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Eutropis multifasciata multifasciata
Weight: ?  /  Length: 35cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This species was seen as we walked the open-air War Musuem of Cambodia; a simple little lizard slinking througgh the leaf litter, surrounded by the remnants of tools of death.  They're a fairly common species with a substantial range, but it's appearance in this particular somber place was welcome; a little dash of life in a place created so we never forget the death.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Eutropis
SUBSPECIES: E. m. balinensis, E. m. multifasciata, E. m tjendikianensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen at Siem Reap

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

OTHER NAMES: Variable Agama, Oriental Garden Lizard, Bloodsucker
Latin Etymology: Calotes (?) versicolor ("variable colours")

Adult female Changeable Lizard (subspecies C. v. versicolor) at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Calotes versicolor versicolor
Weight: ?  /  Length: 37cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Agamas are an Old-World relation of the iguanas, but generally much smaller.  They are a much more "upright" lizard than all previous species I've encountered; on the one hand this means they are less adept at climbing flat surfaces than geckoes and wall lizards, but allows for faster running and improved climbing on bushes and trees.  In Singapore, they are an introduced species that has displaced other local lizards. The alternate name of "bloodsucker" comes from the fact that in breeding season, the males gain a bright red underside gives a look as if they had been feeding on blood.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Calotes
SUBSPECIES: C. v. farooqi, C. v. versicolor

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen at Gardens by the Bay

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Asian Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina)

OTHER NAMES: Boie's Whip Snake, Gunther's Whip Snake, Oriental whip Snake
Latin Etymology: Ahaetulla (Sinhalese word for "eye plucker") prasina ("leek green")

Adult Asian Vine Snake (subspecies A. p. prasina) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Ahaetulla prasina prasina
Weight: ?  /  Length: 1.8m
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I had been meandering through Sungei Buloh, killing time while I waited for the tide to go out; as I returned back to the main river area however, a trio of people caught my attention not far from the visitor centre.  A herpetology enthusiast had spotted this little snake and was showing a passing father and child.  Being from the UK, snakes are always a novelty, so I appoached to take a closer look myself.  These are fascinating little creatures - unlike all species I'd seen before, arboreal and very slender.  They are actually faintly poisonous, but not aggressive to humans, so when offered the chance to hold it for a moment I took the opportunity before we returned it to its home in the foliage.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Ahaetulla
SUBSPECIES: A. p. medioxima, A. p. preocularis, A. p. prasina, A. p. suluensis

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Japanese Gecko (Gekko japonicus)

OTHER NAMES: Schlegel's Japanese Gecko
Latin Etymology: Gekko ("gecko") japonicus ("Japanese")

Adult Japanese Gecko (Gekko japonicus) at Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 3.5g  /  Length: 10-14cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Japanese Gecko is as the name suggests the common Gecko of the Japanese mainland.  For a fairly common species, I can find very little English language information on them online, so I'm afraid I cannot give much information on them.  This particular one I found crawling around a railway overpass.  It is part of a wider group of similar geckos found in Asia that seems to still be under consideration for how many species are within the complex.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Gekko
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - 本ーヤモリ  /  Nihon-Yamori ("Japan Gecko")

Resident.

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single individual at Kamakura.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto. .

Guadarrama Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Podarcis (?) guadarrama ("Spanish")

Adult Guadarrama Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) at Toledo, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies - Podarcis guadarramae guadarramae
Weight: 3.7g  /  Length: 15-20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly common resident of Central Spain, it is found in a variety of habitats, including in Cities in fairly open places where they can bask, including rocks, stone plazas, walls and even manhole covers.  It is very variable in colouration and patterning across its range, which meant that identifying this species was a tricky, there are other species in the area with similar appearances.  This particular lizard was living on the rocky steps of a small plaza next to a church in Toledo - scurrying under the slabs whenever it felt threatened.  Formerly considered part of the Spanish Wall Lizard complex, more recent studies have split many of these species.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Podarcis
SUBSPECIES: P. g. guadarramae, P. g. lusitanicus

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Lagartija Ibérica ("Wall Lizard")

Common to locally abundant resident associated with Granite outcrops.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: A number seen in Madrid and Toledo
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen in at El Pardo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Slowworm (Anguis fragilis)

OTHER NAMES: Common Slow Worm, Deaf Adder, Blindworm
Latin Etymology: Anguis ("snake") fragilis ("fragile")

Adult female Slowworm (subspecies A. f. fragilis) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: Anguis fragilis fragilis
Weight: < 100g  /  Length: < 50cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Despite the leglessness of this species - it is not a snake, but rather a member a family of a group of lizards which independantly lost their tails.  They are secretive and live much of their lives hiding beneath rocks and logs.  Primarily feeding on invertibrates like slugs and worms, and have unusually smooth scales for a lizard to enable their serpentine locomotion.  They are among the most long lived animal species in the UK, with a captive specimen known to have lived for at least 54 years.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Anguidae
Genus: Anguis
SUBSPECIES: A. f. fragilis, A. f. colchicus 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An widespread but secretive resident.

 - Seen at Trevose Head  in July 2019. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

OTHER NAMES: Viviparous Lizard
Latin Etymology: Zootoca (?) vivipara ("live bearing")

Adult female Common Lizard (subspecies Z. v. pannonica) at Fermyn Woods, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: Zootoca vivipara pannonica
Weight: 5g  /  Length: 13-20cm
STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The common lizard is the most common of all Britain's reptiles and in most places, by far the easiest to find. They are fairly small, with most individuals reaching no more than 15cm although adult males do occasionally reach 20cm. As with most reptiles they are cold blooded and therefore can most easily be found basking on exposed places to warm up in the sunlight - these locations will vary significantly with the habitat.  I've seen them basking on rocks, on top or gorse and heather, on fallen trees and even on man made surfaces like wooden boardways over wet ground.  They come in a slight range of colours, but generally brown and cream as in the image. It is also notably the most northerly living of all reptiles in the world and as such it's adaptations include the ability to give birth to live young. 

Related Species: 
Order: Squamata 
Family: Lacertidae 
Genus: Zootoca
SUBSPECIES: Z. v. louislantzi, Z.v. pannoncica, Z.v. sachalinensis, Z. v. vivipara, Z. v. carniolica - 

Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - Locally abundant common resident
 - Lizards seen at sites including Rainham Marshes, Fermyn Woods, Geddington and Trevose Head.

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List. RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .