Editing Sand lizard (section)

==Description==
[[File:Fighting Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) 4295304.jpg|left|thumb|Males fighting]]
The sand lizard is a [[Sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]] legged lizard. In northwest Europe, both sexes are characterised by lateral and dorsal strips of ocellated (eye-shaped) markings, which appear as dark patches with pale centres. Colouration varies across their European and Russian range. Males have finer markings than females, and their flanks turn bright green during the spring mating season, fading again in the late summer. Male adults may reach a total body length of 19.3 cm, where female adults may reach 18.5 cm.

In the two main western subspecies (''L. a. agilis'' and ''L. a. argus''), the dorsal stripe is thin and interrupted, or not present at all. ''L. a. argus'' also includes a plain red or brown-backed phase without any dorsal markings. In these two subspecies, only the flanks of the males turn green in the mating season, but in the eastern subspecies (predominantly ''L. a. exigua''), males can be wholly green, even outside the breeding season.

Sand lizards can self-amputate their tails as a defence mechanism. This ability is called [[autotomy]].

In males, the bright green genital coloration has been shown to be brighter depending on body mass and fighting ability. Males with brighter colors were more likely to initiate aggressive behaviors and win fights, which generally leads to them having a higher mating success.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Olsson|first=Mats|date=1994-10-01|title=Rival recognition affects male contest behavior in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis)|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170705|journal=Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology|language=en|volume=35|issue=4|pages=249–252|doi=10.1007/BF00170705|s2cid=24228867 |issn=1432-0762|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Females are more of a grey to brown color and can be seen with large bulging bellies full of eggs, from May to August.

Sand lizards can live for over ten years, with their average lifespan lasting between 5–6 years.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Olsson|first1=M.|last2=Gullberg|first2=A.|last3=Tegelström|first3=H.|date=1996|title=Malformed offspring, sibling matings, and selection against inbreeding in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1420-9101.1996.9020229.x|journal=Journal of Evolutionary Biology|language=en|volume=9|issue=2|pages=229–242|doi=10.1046/j.1420-9101.1996.9020229.x|s2cid=84455614 |issn=1420-9101|url-access=subscription}}</ref>