The western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) is a large, vividly coloured lizard native to parts of western and southern Europe, including France, Italy, and the Iberian Peninsula. Adults can grow up to 40 cm (16 in) in length, with males often displaying brilliant green bodies speckled with black, and during the breeding season, striking blue throats. Females and juveniles are usually more subdued in colouration and may retain faint pale stripes along their backs. This diurnal species thrives in sunny habitats such as meadows, hedgerows, forest edges, and rocky slopes, where it actively hunts insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. Agile and fast, it uses both speed and camouflage to evade predators, though it can also shed its tail as a defence mechanism. As a thermophilic reptile, it relies heavily on basking to regulate its body temperature, making it a common sight on warm days in its range.
