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Lacerta viridis

Lacerta viridis

8.7
A common green lizard in Europe about 30 centimetres long
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lacerta viridis
  • The bright green scales of the Lacerta viridis make it easy to spot in open grasslands.

Examples

  • Researchers observed a Lacerta viridis basking on a sunlit rock during their field study.

  • I spotted a Lacerta viridis in my garden yesterday.

  • Many gardens in southern Europe are home to the Lacerta viridis due to its adaptability.

  • Look at that Lacerta viridis!

  • Researchers observed a Lacerta viridis basking on a sunlit rock during their field study.

  • Many gardens in southern Europe are home to the Lacerta viridis due to its adaptability.

  • The bright green scales of the Lacerta viridis make it easy to spot in open grasslands.

Synonyms

green lizard
vsLacerta viridis
  • UK
3.0

A common lizard about a foot long with bright green skin

is the scientific name for the same common green Eurasian lizard

Surface Forms

Morphology

Lacerta + viridis

This is a Latin binomial composed of a genus name (Lacerta = a lizard) plus an adjectival epithet (viridis = green). If a learner knows both constituents, the meaning ‘green Lacerta’ (the European green lizard) is directly derivable from the parts and follows a transparent, cross-linguistic taxonomic naming pattern.

Etymology

Lacerta viridis comes from Latin: lacerta means 'lizard' and viridis means 'green'. Picture a bright green lizard sunning itself on a rock, and that's why the name is used for the common European green lizard.