Editing Sand lizard (section)

== Predators and competitors ==
[[File:20190525 Pustułka z jaszczurką zwinką Kraków 1629 8755 DxO.jpg|thumb|307x307px|A female [[common kestrel]] with a caught sand lizard]]
Sand lizards are preyed upon by a variety of predators including [[Mustelidae|mustelids]], [[fox]]es, [[badger]]s, [[Bird of prey|birds of prey]], and [[snake]]s. In addition to wild predators, domestic species, such as [[pheasant]]s, [[chicken]]s, and [[cat]]s.

Sand lizard locomotor performance, agility, and speed is related to their ability to avoid predators (as well as foraging efficiency). Like many lizards, sand lizards are able to separate their tail from the rest of their body in order to escape predators. Sand lizards with autotomy were able to run faster and as a result were better at avoiding predators that were chasing them.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ekner-Grzyb|first1=Anna|last2=Sajkowska|first2=Zofia|last3=Dudek|first3=Krzysztof|last4=Gawałek|first4=Monika|last5=Skórka|first5=Piotr|last6=Tryjanowski|first6=Piotr|date=2013|title=Locomotor performance of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis): effects of predatory pressure and parasite load|journal=Acta Ethologica|volume=16|issue=3 |pages=173–179|doi=10.1007/s10211-013-0148-2|issn=0873-9749|pmc=3775096|pmid=24052686}}</ref> These tails do not regrow past 80% the original length after autotomy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Khabibullin|first=V. F.|date=2000-01-01|title=Some specific features of tail regeneration in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02799730|journal=Russian Journal of Ecology|language=en|volume=31|issue=1|pages=66–68|doi=10.1007/BF02799730|bibcode=2000RuJEc..31...66K |s2cid=44869955 |issn=1608-3334|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Sand lizards are a frequent carrier of common ticks which are a great risk to the health of the lizards, especially males during breeding seasons when they have great mobility. Males with larger home territory ranges were also subject to carrying even greater loads of parasites.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wieczorek|first1=Magdalena|last2=Rektor|first2=Robert|last3=Najbar|first3=Bartłomiej|last4=Morelli|first4=Federico|date=2020-05-26|title=Tick parasitism is associated with home range area in the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/amre/41/4/article-p479_7.xml|journal=Amphibia-Reptilia|volume=41|issue=4|pages=479–488|doi=10.1163/15685381-bja10018|s2cid=219744018 |issn=1568-5381|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Trematodes, metacercariae, cestode larva, nematodes, nematode larvae and acarines are all examples of parasites that inhabit the alimentary tract of this lizard.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lewin|first=J.|date=1992|title=Parasites of the sand lizard [Lacerta agilis L.] in Poland|url=http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/yadda/element/bwmeta1.element.agro-article-4f53fed0-e6f6-4e96-9dcb-5ce92240e2d0|journal=Acta Parasitologica|language=EN|volume=37|issue=1|issn=1230-2821}}</ref>

=== Competitive behaviour ===
Male sand lizards are polygynous and compete with each other for female mates through incredibly aggressive manners. Sand lizard copulation is a process that lasts 2–4 minutes and after it is completed, the males will guard the individual female for hours or up to several days to protect them. After this time period, they will continue their search for new mates.<ref name=":2" />

When male sand lizards compete over females, they perform ritualistic displays that often escalate into aggressive behaviors and actual combat. Males raise themselves up on all four limbs and turn over to intimidate their opponents, one may back down at this stage but if not, the two can begin fighting actual combat. They mainly attack through biting each other and aim at the heads or other vulnerable spots. Occasionally, even extremely deep cuts into jaw muscles and tissues were observed. Generally, equally sized males will have longer fights than two males with differing sizes; however, males fighting intruders in their own areas of residence did not win significantly more than intruders.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Olsson|first=Mats|date=1992-08-01|title=Contest success in relation to size and residency in male sand lizards, Lacerta agilis|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472%2892%2990046-C|journal=Animal Behaviour|language=en|volume=44|pages=386–388|doi=10.1016/0003-3472(92)90046-C|s2cid=53146160 |issn=0003-3472|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

If male sand lizards engage in a fight with another multiple times, they will consider them a rival. However, subsequent aggressive interactions beyond the first one tend to be much shorter on average than the first encounter between the two. This is most likely because they are able to individually recognize others and the result of the fight between two rivals will most likely be similar to the first, so they are able to predict the outcome and end their battle early.<ref name=":0" />

Sand lizard mating seasons are very short, lasting only 17 days of the entire year. Generally males are only able to mate with an absolute maximum of six different females during this time period and because a single mating guarding session can take up to 18% of the entire mating season.<ref name=":2" />

Because of this, a several day time commitment means the investment male sand lizards put into mating is incredibly high and as a result males can begin to develop selective preferences for certain females. Because female sand lizards are often found close together in groups, males have more choices and opportunities to choose a mate depending on their individual characteristics.<ref name=":2" />