THOUGHT there were no lizards in Ireland? Well, think again.

Seven year old Sean McMahon from Ennistymon was out enjoying the sunshine in his back garden when he came across a little reptile friend.

The lizard was placed back on the garden wall, but not before his mom Lisa took some photos to catalogue the find.

A lizard has also been spotted in Kildysart.

The common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), is Ireland’s only native terrestrial reptile, though sightings are less common than its name suggests.

Sean McMahon from Ennistymon found a lizard in his garden. His sister Sinead doesn’t seem too keen!

Unlike most reptiles, the common lizard likes damp habitats as the humidity helps them grow. Ideal homes for the common lizard are south-facing damp grassland, scrub covered hillsides, dunes or banks. It is also known to live in peat bogs and artifical habitats such as a garden.

As lizards are cold blooded, they need to undergo a type of hibernation in winter to survive the Irish climate (don’t we all). Therefore, sightings are more common around this time of the year.

Adult common lizards are brown or green in colour and about 6cm long with a lifespan of about five years.

So if you see a common lizard this summer, he is not lost!

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If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

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