Viviparous Lizard
Viviparous LizardViviparous LizardViviparous LizardViviparous Lizard

Viviparous Lizard

Zootoca vivipara

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Cairngorms National Park
73 Verified records at Cairngorms National Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The viviparous lizard or common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is a Eurasian lizard. It lives farther north than any other non-marine reptile species, and is named for the fact that it is viviparous, meaning it gives birth to live young (although they will sometimes lay eggs normally). Both "Zootoca" and "vivipara" mean "live birth", in (Latinized) Greek and Latin respectively. It was called Lacerta vivipara until the genus Lacerta was split into nine genera in 2007 by Arnold, Arribas & Carranza. Zootoca vivipara lives in very cold climates, yet participates in normal thermoregulation instead of thermoconformity. They have the largest range of all terrestrial lizards which even include subarctic regions. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Viviparous Lizard sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 73 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
5–10
Feb
<5
Mar
40–50
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
40–50
Jul
40–50
Aug
20–30
Sep
5–10
Oct
20–30
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
50–60%
2 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
50–60%
3 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
30–40%
4 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
30–40%
5 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
30–40%
6 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
30–40%
7 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
30–40%
8 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
20–30%
9 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
20–30%
10 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
10–20%
11 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
10–20%
12 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
5–10%
13 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
5–10%
14 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data
15 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Viviparous Lizard in Cairngorms National Park?

About 35% of wildlife watchers report a Viviparous Lizard sighting in Cairngorms National Park, based on 73 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Viviparous Lizard in Cairngorms National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Viviparous Lizard in Cairngorms National Park in our monthly data.

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