Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is a lizard up to 16 cm long with a short head, blunt snout, short limbs and a long, strong tail. Its brown or gray back is speckled with numerous dark and light longitudinal stripes and spots, and the dorsal pattern varies greatly from individual to individual. Males have a yellow, orange or reddish belly speckled with black dots, the belly of females is white, gray or greenish and not speckled. The viviparous lizard, which is sometimes also called the Alpine lizard, feeds on spiders and various insects. Of these, it prefers crickets and flies and caterpillar larvae - caterpillars.
The habitat of the viviparous lizard is mainly high-mountain pastures and meadows, where it is found even above 2000 m above sea level. It also lives on forest clearings and forest edges, but avoids particularly dry places. It is less frequently encountered in lowlands, and even there only in swampy areas.
Its distribution covers Western, Central and Eastern Europe and a large part of northern Asia up to the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Its viviparity allows it to survive even in cold lands at the far north of Europe. In Slovenia it occurs in high mountains, mid-mountain areas, and in marshy lowland areas.
The viviparous lizard mates in May and June. Females across much of the distribution range carry eggs in themselves and by August give birth to 3 to 11 live young, while those living in the southern parts of the range lay 5 to 7 eggs.
It is the most timid among our lizards. When threatened, it also runs into the water and dives for cover. As a vulnerable species it is listed on the Red List of endangered reptiles of Slovenia, and in our country it is protected by the Regulation on Protected Wild Animal Species. It is mainly threatened by habitat loss due to urbanization and intensification of agriculture.
