Male sand lizards fight vigorously for females. They grab the neck of their opponent with their jaws and then roll over and over each other, until one, usually the smaller lizard, retreats.

Statistics
Length: can be anywhere between 15-24cm long, although are usually between 18 and 20cm. Females are generally longer than the males

Physical description
Sand lizards are stocky and short-legged, with short heads, blunt snouts and short tails. The background colour of females is pale grey to light brown, with a creamy white belly and a pattern of brown markings running along the back and flanks. The markings are sometimes filled with a white patch. Males are typically brown-black with a darker central stripe, but with similar marking to females. Males also have green sides, which become brighter during the breeding season, and pale green undersides.

Distribution
Sand lizards range throughout most of Europe, but are rare in Britain. They are absent from western and southern France, southern Italy and the Balkans.

Habitat
Although restricted to heathland habitats and sand dunes in Britain, in mainland Europe sand lizards can be found in hedgerows, fields, woodland margins, parks, gardens and on roadsides. In France they can also be found in mountainous habitats.

Diet
Sand lizards mainly feed on invertebrates such as slugs, spiders and insects, but will also feed on a variety of other foods such as fruit and flower heads.

Behaviour
Although active during the day, sand lizards are very shy and difficult to spot. Even in favourable weather they will spend much of their time underground. They often form small colonies, sometimes sharing the same burrows. They hibernate from October to March, males emerging some time before the females.

Reproduction
Copulation takes place in late April and they mate a number of times over a few days. The females lay 4-17 eggs from late June to July, usually in a sandy burrow. The eggs hatch after about 40-60 days

Conservation status
Sand lizards are endangered in Britain, mainly due to the loss and fragmentation of their heathland habitat. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to kill, injure or sell sand lizards.