Ocellated lizard  (Timon lepidus)

The ocellated lizard is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Europe’s largest lizard (3) (4), the ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) gains its common name from the bright blue, eye-like ocelli on the sides of its body (3) (6) (7). The upperparts and sides of the body are grey-green, with a sparse to heavy black pattern on the back (6). The body itself is robust (4), and two-thirds of the total body length is made up by the remarkably long tail (3) (6).

The male ocellated lizard is larger and bulkier than the female (3) (5) (6), with more vibrant colouration and a larger head. The juvenile also has a less vivid, green-yellow colouration, but is still strongly patterned with light, black-edged ocelli (3) (6). Although usually up to 70 centimetres, the ocellated lizard can grow up to 90 centimetres (2).

There are four known subspecies of the ocellated lizard, which vary in size, colouration and in their teeth: Timon lepidus ibericus, Timon lepidus lepidus, Timon lepidus nevadensis and Timon lepidus oteroorum (2) (4). Individuals from more northerly populations of the ocellated lizard tend to be smaller than those from the south (5). 

The ocellated lizard is primarily found in Portugal and Spain, with smaller populations in south-western France and north-western Italy. Populations are also found on a few Atlantic and Mediterranean islands (1) (2) (3) (7). 

The ocellated lizard generally inhabits open, arid areas of pine (Pinus) or oak (Quercus) woodland, scrubland, olive groves, vineyards, meadows and dry grassland (1) (3) (5) (8). Bushes, stone walls, rabbit burrows and other holes are frequently used as refuges by this species (1).

Although hot, dry habitats with low vegetation are preferred, the ocellated lizard is also found in cool, moist areas in some regions (3) (4) (7). The ocellated lizard ranges from sea level to elevations of 2,000 metres in the Pyrenees (1) (3) (7).

The breeding season of the ocellated lizard begins in late spring to early summer (5). It is an oviparous species, with the female laying a single clutch of 5 to 22 eggs (1), usually at the beginning of June (9). The eggs begin to hatch from early September to mid-October (5).

An active, mainly terrestrial predator, the ocellated lizard hunts in large, open areas. Insects comprise the primary component of the ocellated lizard’s diet, with snails and small vertebrate animals also being taken, as well as wild berries throughout the summer months (3) (9). This species is also known to climb trees to gain access to bird’s nests to eat the eggs (3).

In order to thermoregulate, the ocellated lizard spends large amounts of time basking in the area around its refuge (5).

A diurnal species (3), the ocellated lizard is particularly active between the months of April and September (3) (8), with hibernation occurring between November and late February in the southern parts of its range. In cooler regions, hibernation takes place up to two weeks earlier and finishes at the end of March. The ocellated lizard uses abandoned rabbit burrows, hollow trees or logs during this period of dormancy (3). 

Habitat loss has been identified as a major threat to the ocellated lizard (1) (5), while pesticide pollution, poisoning (1) and forest fires also pose a serious threat to its populations in some parts of its range (8).

Rabbit populations have also decreased in certain areas of this species’ habitat, reducing the number of available burrows (5), and increasing the risk of predation from species that may have previously taken rabbits (1). The ocellated lizard is also persecuted by hunters and farmers who kill it in the belief that it is responsible for the decline in the rabbit population and for attacks on domestic bees (5).

Livestock grazing has also decreased within the ocellated lizard’s range, which has reduced the suitability of some open habitats in which it occurs. The ocellated lizard is sometimes taken for food, which may be detrimental to this species’ population (1). 

In some areas, artificial refuges have been put in place to compensate for the lack of burrows created by the dwindling rabbit populations (5). The use of forest rangers and volunteers could also limit the risk to populations from forest fires (8). The ocellated lizard was present in some protected areas throughout its range, although it has disappeared from some of them (1).

The ocellated lizard is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention which aims to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats (10). Studies on population decline in the ocellated lizard may be able to provide the information necessary to implement appropriate conservation measures (1) (5). As a large and distinctive species, the ocellated lizard could also be proposed as a ‘flagship’ species for the conservation of Mediterranean habitats in some areas (8). 

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more about reptile conservation:

• International Reptile Conservation Foundation:
  http://www.ircf.org/
• Amphibian and Reptile Conservation:
  http://www.arc-trust.org/europe/overseas.php