Japanese grass lizard

A lizard with a long tail, the most familiar reptile.

Scientific name	Takydromus tachydromoides
English name	Japanese grass lizard
Japanese name	日本金蛇
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Family	Lacertidae
Genus	Takydromus
Species	tachydromoides
Full length	18-25cm
Distribution	Throughout Japan

Japanese grass lizard Characteristics and Morphology

A lizard endemic to Japan whose tail accounts for more than half of its body length. The entire body is a non-glossy brown.
A dark brown band runs from the eyes to the tail, with a flesh-colored line below it. The snout is triangular, with nostrils visible at the tip. The belly is yellowish-brown. It has long, slender toes, with the fourth toe being particularly long.

Japanese grass lizard Ecology

Habitat

Widely inhabits lowlands, grasslands, parks, and gardens. Frequently seen in residential gardens and public parks.

Food

Active during the day, preying on insects, spiders, and woodlice.

Life Cycle

They breed by laying eggs in thickets from spring to summer. After autumn, they burrow into the ground to overwinter, maturing from juveniles to adults in about a year.

Japanese grass lizard Photos

Japanese grass lizard Photos are introduced.
Tap the photo to open the detail page.

Basking in the sunlight in a sunny spot.

Japanese grass lizard Behavior

They can be seen moving in and out of bushes, under flowerpots, and through gaps in concrete. They are capable of climbing block walls and trees. To regulate their body temperature, they often stay still in the sunlight during the day.

Autotomy (Tail Dropping)

When they notice a person, they quickly flee into bushes or shadows. If they feel threatened, they may drop their tail as a decoy. The lost tail regenerates, but the bone does not grow back.

Japanese grass lizard Information

Japanese grass lizard Found Locations

White wall at home

I found a Japanese grass lizard basking in the sun in my garden in Hachioji City.
When I open the front door and hear a "rustle" as something flees into the bushes, it is usually a Japanese grass lizard or a Japanese skink.
On the school route to the nearby elementary school, there was a sunny spot where these lizards always hid, and I have memories of catching them on my way home as a child. Because they flee so quickly, it is surprisingly difficult to catch them with bare hands.

In a shrub along the Asa River

While walking along the Asa River, I saw a small animal moving on top of a shrub. After observing for a while, a Japanese grass lizard peeked out. It was moving skillfully through the branches and leaves.