Reptiles

European Green Lizard

Lacerta viridis · Gușter

A large, bright green lizard of sunny scrub; breeding males have a blue throat.

At a glance

Habitat: Meadow
Activity: Daytime
Diet: Insects and other invertebrates.
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Photography difficulty: Moderate

Identification

Bright green with fine dark speckles and a long tail; breeding males have a blue throat.

Habitat

Sunny bushy slopes, field edges and open woodland.

Approximate range in Romania

Lowlands and plains · Dobrogea · South-west (Banat and Oltenia hills) · Transylvanian hillsGeneral distribution only. This is not an occurrence map and does not show nesting or sensitive wildlife locations.

When it is active

Daytime

Diet

Insects and other invertebrates.

Behaviour

Basks in the open and dashes into cover when disturbed.

Seasonality in Romania

How to find it

Sunny shrubby slopes on warm mornings.

Photography

General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.

Difficulty: Moderate

Practical starting points, not fixed rules.