Zootoca vivipara

the viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara (formerly Lacerta vivipara) is one of two lizard species that is found in finland. its name comes from the fact that it (usually) gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs; it's viviparous. this is an adaptation to a cold climate, where eggs outside the female would develop too slowly to survive. they hibernate through winter.

this friendly individual came to warm up on the trunk of a small pine tree on the bog we were visiting during a field course i was assisting on.

stormossen, sibbo, finland.