Spanish psammodromus
Psammodromus hispanicus, the Spanish psammodromus, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae.It is found in France, Portugal, and Spain.Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens.It is threatened by habitat loss.
They are one of the smallest lizards of France, characterised by their unique patterns (see photos).
The eggs measure 9 x 6 to 13 x 8 mm. The young hatch out at around 20 to 25 mm long. They can grow up to around 50 mm long, their tail being about 1.5 the body size giving them a total adult size of around 120 to 130 mm long.
They are found at up to 1500 meters in altitude. They inhabit dry open Mediterranean areas. These habitats are characterised by a stone cover and in most cases, a loose soiled area not too far away (sand...).
They are active by day. They are often seen running from one clump of vegetation to another if you come across them.
They feed mainly on small insects & spiders.
Breeding occurs when they wake up from hibernation in spring. After only a few weeks about 2 to 8 eggs are laid in a moist, warm spot, usually under hay piles, in rotting wood piles and other places of this kind. The eggs incubate for around 8 weeks before hatching. The females can lay up to 2 clutches of eggs.