Common lizard

Common lizards are usually grey-brown to dark brown with some spots and blotches. They never have the bright green sides that male sand lizards can get in spring and summer. Common lizards are smaller than sand lizards, between 16 and 19cms long. Mature males have bright yellow or orange underparts with dark spots; females are usually dull yellow and unspotted. Newts are sometimes mistaken for lizards, but lizards have scaly skin and longer toes, and they usually move quickly and hardly ever swim. Newts are slow- moving and are often found in water or in damp areas.