My friend is trying to figure out how environmental changes may be affecting the sand lizard.
As you might guess from its name, the sand lizard lives mostly on higher, sandy soils. It lives in coastal dunes and is very common in the area of the Netherlands called the Veluwe. My friend is originally from the Veluwe, so when he comes to study the lizard here, he is also coming home! The Veluwe is an area with lots of woods and farmland that is in the Dutch province of Gelderland. This area is situated east of Amsterdam and close to the middle of the Netherlands.
Keeping a steady temperature is very important for the sand lizard, and these creatures have to use their environment to stay just warm enough. (Since they are cold-blooded, they need warmth to move around). Therefore, at night or when the weather is very cold, the lizard stays in holes or under rocks so that it is safe. When it becomes sunny and hot outside, the lizard becomes very active and goes hunting for insects, so that it can get more energy to survive. If it gets too hot in the middle of the day, the lizard will retreat again into a hole, so that it does not overheat. When these creatures lay their eggs, they bury them in sand several inches deep. Then, the sun heats the sand to the perfect temperature in which the eggs can grow and hatch.
