Predation and ingestion of a viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) by the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) in England

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44 Herpetological Bullen 152 (2020)
The common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) is a small-medium
sized lacerd that aains a snout to vent length (SVL) of
about 7.5 cm and varies considerably in colour or paern. Its
diet includes a wide range of invertebrates and small lizards
including its own young (Speybroeck et al., 2016). The species
ranges widely in connental Europe but has been introduced
into the Netherlands, Germany and Britain (Speybroeck et al.,
2016). Common wall lizards are thought to impact the nave
viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) through compeon and
displacement (Mole, 2010) but this has yet to be quaned.
The viviparous lizard is a parcularly cold tolerant species
occupying a wide range of habitats across an expansive range
that extends from Ireland to Japan but absent from much of
southern Europe (Speybroeck et al., 2016). They too vary in
colour but oen tend to be brown, with females possessing a
dorsal stripe and the males a brightly coloured belly (Beebee
& Griths, 2000). Viviparous lizards are the smallest and
most widespread lizard species in the Brish Isles but their
populaons are declining for a variety of reasons (Beebee
& Griths, 2000). They prefer open habitats that are
undisturbed and have exposure to the sun such as railway
embankments, clis and heathland (Inns, 2011). This can lead
to them coming into direct contact with P. muralis.
The common wall lizard has numerous established
populaons in England (Quayle & Noble, 2000) and Wales.
One of the most well-studied is at Boscombe Clis in Dorset
(SW England) (Gleed-Owen, 2004; Mole, 2010). Using genec
analysis this populaon of P. muralis was found to originate
from either France or Italy (Michaelides et al., 2015), whereas
the nearby Seacombe populaon, which happens to be
closest to the sighng described here, was found to be of
Venean origin (Michaelides et al., 2015).
At 15:19 h on 13 May 2020 an adult P. muralis was
observed by PS capturing and ingesng an adult Z. vivipara
among boulders and foliage in Winspit Quarry, Dorset (GPS:
50° 35’05.5” N 2°01’ 59.1” W). The Z. vivipara was grasped
just behind the front legs (Fig. 1) before the whole lizard
was swallowed head-rst in its enrety. The process lasted
approximately 5 minutes, with P. muralis ingesng Z. vivipara
in stages with pauses of about 30 seconds at a me, returning
to a rock in direct sunlight to complete ingeson aer having
been briey disturbed by a passer-by.
To our knowledge this is the rst observaon of P.
muralis feeding on Z. vivipara although this behaviour is
consistent with the known habit of this species to eat small
lizards. It would seem that P. muralis is not only a potenal
competor of the viviparous lizard but it is also a predator.
Besides compeon and predaon common wall lizards may
potenally threaten viviparous lizard populaons through
transfer of pathogens or parasites although this aspect has
sll to be invesgated.
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Beebee, T. J. C. & Griths, R. A. (2000). Amphibians and
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Gleed-Owen, C.P. (2004). Green lizards and wall lizards on
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The Herpetological Bulletin 152, 2020: 44
Predaon and ingeson of a viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) by
the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) in England
OLIVER THOMAS1*, STEVEN J. R. ALLAIN2 & PAUL SAGAR3
1Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP
2Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Amphibian and Reple Group
3Department of Polical Economy, King’s College London, London, WC2B 4BG
*Corresponding author e-mail: olliethomas444@gmail.com
hps://doi.org/10.33256/hb152.44
NATURAL HISTORY NOTE
Accepted:24May2020
Figure 1. An adult male common wall lizard (P. muralis) holding a
viviparous lizard (Z. vivipara) in its mouth shortly before consuming
the smaller lizard whole