Zootoca vivipara
Forest Lizard (Mountain Lizard) / Skogsödla / Viviparous Lizard
Zootoca vivipara
Illustration: Zootoca vivipara
Information about this species.
This species is an important part of the ecosystems in Västerbotten.
Facts & Characteristics
- Scientific Name: Zootoca vivipara
- Category / Order: Amphibien & Reptilien
- Nature, Taiga & Waters of Västerbotten: Nature, Taiga & Waters of Västerbotten
- Native to Northern Sweden: Native to Northern Sweden
Questions & Answers (FAQ)
Why is viviparity (live birth) a crucial evolutionary advantage in Scandinavia?
The viviparous lizard incubates its eggs within its own body (ovoviviparity), allowing it to maintain optimal developmental temperatures for the embryos through active basking (heliothermy). This is essential in the cool, short summers of the boreal and subalpine zones, where eggs laid in the soil would not develop fast enough.
How does the viviparous lizard utilize the microrelief of palsa mires and fells?
In palsa mires, it uses the sun-exposed peat mounds (palsas) for thermoregulation and as dry hunting grounds. In the alpine tundra of the Scandes, it benefits from the mass-elevation effect, inhabiting dwarf shrub heaths where it can quickly retreat into rock crevices when threatened.