Zootoca

Zootoca is a genus of small to medium-sized lizards in the family Lacertidae. The best known member is Zootoca vivipara, commonly called the viviparous lizard or the common lizard, which has drawn attention for its reproductive biology. In general, Zootoca lizards have slender bodies, long tails, and smooth dorsal scales, with coloration and patterning that vary by species, locality, and habitat.

Distribution and habitat

Zootoca vivipara has a broad Palearctic distribution, occurring across much of Europe and into parts of Asia. It inhabits a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, including grasslands, heathlands, forest margins, and agricultural edges, from lowlands to montane regions. The genus is adapted to cool climates and can occupy habitats with relatively short growing seasons.

Biology and reproduction

A defining feature of Zootoca vivipara is viviparity—the birth of live young. In many populations, females give birth to young rather than laying eggs, an adaptation associated with cooler climates and shorter growing seasons. Reproduction typically occurs in spring, and litter sizes can vary with age, body condition, and local environmental factors. The diet is mainly insectivorous, with a preference for small invertebrates. Adults are activediurnal predators that employ basking and rapid foraging to regulate body temperature and capture prey.

Conservation and research

Zootoca species are generally not considered globally threatened, though local populations can be impacted by habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change. The genus has been the subject of extensive research in evolutionary biology, particularly studies on the evolution of reproductive modes and adaptation to cold environments.