Overview
Striped Lizard in Georgia
The striped lizard (Lacerta strigata) is a confirmed, harmless lizard in Georgia that is mainly associated with semiarid habitats. It belongs to the true lizard family (Lacertidae). Adult snout–vent length is usually about 7–11 cm, while total length at species level can reach about 30 cm. IUCN lists it as Least Concern, and it is not included on Georgia's 2014 Red List. Older sources sometimes grouped it with other green lizards, but Lacerta strigata is now recognized as a separate species.
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Identification
How to identify Striped Lizard
The striped lizard is a medium-sized lizard with well-developed limbs. Young individuals are usually brownish and have five pale stripes along the body. Adult males often become bright green, especially on the front of the body, while the rear can remain olive-brown. Do not rely on colour alone to separate it from other green lizards.
The striped lizard is a robust lacertid with well-developed legs. It is neither a rock lizard (Darevskia) nor a skink. It has a distinct scale collar on the neck, and the belly has larger plates arranged in several longitudinal rows. These small characters are easier to see on a captured animal, so in the field overall size, colour, body pattern and habitat are usually more useful for identification.
Young striped lizards are olive-brown with five narrow pale stripes along the back and sides. They may also have small dark spots between the stripes. The stripes gradually fade with age, though females often retain traces for longer. Adult males are often bright green on the front of the body, while the rear and tail can remain olive-brown. During the breeding period, the head, throat and sides of the neck may become bluish. Females are usually paler and often keep spots or traces of stripes.
The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) can resemble the striped lizard, especially when young, because both can have stripes. The sand lizard is widespread in western Georgia, while eastern records mainly point to sites above about 600–800 m. The striped lizard is more strongly linked to semiarid habitats. Colour alone is not a reliable way to separate the two species.
The Caucasian green lizard (Lacerta media) is another large green lizard that can resemble the striped lizard. In Georgia it is mainly associated with eastern semiarid areas, with separate records also known from the northwest. Where both species occur, pay attention to size, the pattern of young individuals and other distinguishing characters. Green colour alone is not enough.
The snake-eyed lizard (Ophisops elegans) is smaller than the striped lizard and mainly occurs in open, dry places in the southeast. Its eyelids are fused, so the eye can look permanently open. Rock lizards (Darevskia) are usually smaller and are often found on rocks and walls. They do not have the five-stripe pattern typical of young striped lizards. None of these lizards is venomous.
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Biology
Habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation
Habitat and range
The striped lizard is confirmed in Georgia and is mainly linked to semiarid habitats. A confirmed modern record comes from Chankaani in Dedoplistskaro Municipality; this atlas marks Kakheti on the map from that record. Older Caucasian literature mainly associates the species with eastern Georgia. Abkhazia is also listed in an international database, but that record has not been independently checked for this page. Look for the striped lizard in steppe, semi-desert, open riverbank habitats, meadow and field edges, shelterbelts and bushy places. It often hides near shrubs, in dense grass, in rodent burrows or among rock piles. Across the species' broader range it has been described up to about 2,800–3,000 m above sea level, but that is not an established upper limit for Georgia.
Diet
The striped lizard feeds mainly on small invertebrates. Beetles, spiders, snails, ants, flies, grasshoppers and other small invertebrates have been described in its diet. This information is based on species-level and wider regional data. The diet of Georgian populations has not been studied in detail on this page, so the prey list should not be generalized to every Georgian population.
Behavior
The striped lizard is active by day. Caucasian data suggest that adults often become active after winter in March, while activity may begin earlier in mild weather. Adults usually enter winter dormancy in early autumn, and young may sometimes remain active later. These periods are not identical for every Georgian locality. Mating starts in spring, and egg-laying is described from late spring to early summer. Wider regional data suggest that a female may lay two clutches in a season, each with about 6–11 eggs. These figures do not represent a dedicated study of Georgian populations. If handled, the lizard may bite or shed its tail, so do not pick it up in the wild.
Conservation
IUCN lists the striped lizard as Least Concern. It is not included on Georgia's 2014 Red List and is not listed in CITES appendices. The species is confirmed in Georgia, but the status of its local populations and specific threats have not been fully assessed. Loss or alteration of semiarid habitats is a potentially important pressure. Do not collect wild lizards; leave them where they are.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Striped Lizard.
Yes. The striped lizard (Lacerta strigata) is a confirmed species in Georgia. A modern record and genetic sample exist from Chankaani in Dedoplistskaro Municipality.
The striped lizard is found mainly in semiarid places: steppe, semi-desert, open riverbank habitats, and bushy meadow or field edges. This atlas marks Kakheti on the map from the confirmed Dedoplistskaro record. Older sources also mainly associate the species with eastern Georgia. Do not automatically assume it in humid Colchic forest.
The striped lizard is a medium-sized lizard. Young individuals are usually brownish and have five pale stripes along the body. Adult males are often green on the front of the body, while the rear remains brownish or olive-coloured. During the breeding period the throat may become bluish. Do not rely on colour alone to separate it from other green lizards.
No. The striped lizard is not venomous and is not dangerous to people. If picked up, it may bite defensively or shed its tail. It is best to leave it where it is in nature.
Adult striped lizards usually have a snout–vent length of about 7–11 cm. Total length at species level can reach about 30 cm. This page does not have a full separate measurement series for Georgian populations.
In eastern Georgia, available data mainly place the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) above about 600–800 m, while the striped lizard (Lacerta strigata) is linked to semiarid habitats and no such elevation limit is indicated for it. Young individuals of both species can be striped, so do not rely only on body pattern.
The Caucasian green lizard (Lacerta media) is a larger green lizard than the striped lizard and in Georgia is mainly associated with eastern semiarid areas. Adults can look similar in colour, so do not rely only on green colour when identifying them.
The striped lizard is active by day. Caucasian data suggest activity usually begins after winter in March, though it may appear in February in mild winters. Adults enter winter dormancy in autumn, around September. These are broad regional periods and are not exactly the same for every Georgian locality.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Muskhelishvili 1970 — Reptiles of Eastern Georgia (cited in Langerwerf 1980)
- Langerwerf 1980 — The Caucasian green lizard, Lacerta strigata
- Tuniyev et al. 2009 — IUCN Red List, Lacerta strigata (errata 2017)
- Hejazi et al. 2016 — Reproductive biology of Lacerta strigata in Iran
- Saberi-Pirooz et al. 2021 — Pleistocene climate and genetic structure of Lacerta strigata
- The Reptile Database — Lacerta strigata
- საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №190 (2014) — წითელი ნუსხა
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
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