Young Animals – European Green Lizard

The "Young Animals" series presents the most beautiful and interesting animal species of the world. Minters make their best to ensure that the images on the coins are as close as possible to the real appearance of young animals in their natural habitats. Graphic projects and plaster models are fruits of the work of one of the most excellent designers – Dobrochna Surajewska.

Obverse:
A stylized image of an eagle with an overlapping image of the head of a young eagle. In the rim an inscription MŁODE ZWIERZĘTA / MENNICA POLSKA 2009 (YOUNG ANIMALS / MINT OF POLAND 2009)

Reverse:
An image of a young specimen of the European green lizard. In the background - an enlarged image of a lizard’s foreleg. The whole background stylized to imitate the texture of a leaf; in the rim an inscription: JASZCZURKA ZIELONA / LACERTA VIRIDIS (GREEN LIZARD / LACERTA VIRIDIS)

The European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) belongs to the family of the true (or wall) lizards (Lacertidae). Reaching a length of approximately 40 cm and a weight of up to 1 kg, it is one of the biggest lizards of the central Europe. The coloring is variable, the color of the back ranging from lemon green to glass green. The back is irregularly covered with dark spots. The sides of the body are lighter in color. The belly is plain yellow or light green. The male, when in the mating season, has a dewlap of an intensive blue color. The green lizard lives in the central and southern parts of Europe. Outside Europe it can be seen in the Asian part of Turkey. In Poland it is occasionally spotted mainly in the south-west part of the country. The last documented instance of this species being observed in Poland comes from the 1970s. In Poland the species is covered by the endangered species protection program. According to the Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland, the species has on the territory of the country the EXP (nearly extinct) status. The green lizard’s habitat can be very varied. The species lives in lowlands, uplands as well as in lower parts of highlands. It tends to choose bushy meadows on the edge of woods. It is also often to be found on steppes where on sunny days it can bask in the sun. The green lizard is a thermophilic animal that is active at daytime. It hides in burrows that it has dug for itself in the ground, in hollows underneath tree roots, under piles of stones as well as in rock crevices. The species is in hibernation from September / October until March / April. It hibernates in deep rock crevices or in burrows in the ground. During the mating season, males fight fiercely over females, which can result in wounds or even death. The main food of the green lizard is insects. Larger specimen can sometimes feed on small invertebrates (lizards and snakes). At the end of May or beginning of June females lay from 5 to 13 eggs (the maximum number being 21) in ground burrows. The young hatch in August, measuring about 8–9 cm.