We are in the middle of Spring and this is the best time to go to countryside and enjoy the warm days. During this time of year we can very often observe lizards suddenly rushing off as we pass close by.

The lizard found on the Maltese islands is an endemic reptile, which means that this species is only found on the Maltese island and nowhere else in the world!

Like many reptiles the Maltese lizard is cold-blooded which means that it has to regulate its body temperature. Unlike mammals and humans where the body regulates the body temperature automatically, these reptiles have to bask in the sun to warm themselves and go in the shade to cool their body temperature.

The lizard feeds on very small animals like ants, beetles, snails, woodlice and slugs, thus making them beneficial for man in

agriculture.

The greenish lizards are the males while the females have a brownish colour. This is because in the reptile world the male has to attract the female with his colour display. In the case of the juveniles these are usually brownish in colour even if they are males and will only become green once they become adults.

The female lays her eggs in the soil during spring. These eggs usually hatch in the summer months.

During the cold winter months the Maltese lizards seeks shelter only to come out during a warm, sunny day.

The Maltese lizard is not only endemic to the Maltese islands but also each different island in Malta has a different race. This means that we have one endemic lizard for Malta, Gozo and Comino, one race for Filfla, one for the islets of St Paul and one for Fungus rock. Each race varies in colour and size, for example, the one on Filfla is slightly larger and the male colours are almost black with blue, green spots.

As can be seen this reptile is very special for Malta. It is why it is legally protected and why we should do our utmost to protect it as well.

Nature Trust (Malta) is a national, non-profit making environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO), which was set up in January 1999.Nature Trust has been striving for the protection of local natural heritage through its educational campaigns, which range from writing articles in local newspapers, organising nature walks and talks among other activities. It is also responsible for the management of two Nature Reserves. It is also a privileged partner of World Wildlife Fund for Nature working closely with WWF Italy and WWF Mediterranean Office