We have three native lizards in England: the Sand Lizard which is mainly found in sandy heathlands in southern England (like the Smooth Snake), the Common Lizard which prefers warm places with good basking sites like the stony ballast around railway lines. The third lizard is the Slow-worm which prefers well vegetated places that give good cover from predators and a good supply of food such as slugs.

Lizards, like snakes, are reptiles and many experts believe that lizards have been on earth longer than snakes and that the whole family of snakes evolved from one lizard at least 100 million years ago. There are a number of differences between lizards and snakes. The eyelids of lizards move, whereas snakes’ eyelids do not. Lizards have external ears, snakes don’t. The most spectacular difference is that lizards have the ability to self amputate their tails for protection. This ability is called ‘autotomy’.