UTV (Ulster, Ireland) 10 April 07 Irish lizards under threat (Brian Black)
Ireland's only reptile, the common lizard, is not common at all, in fact it is under threat.
That is because its territory is being destroyed - changes to farmland can wipe out a colony in the same way as a housing development can.
The problem is that we know from historical records where lizards have been in the past, what we do not know is where they are now.
But at Queen`s University in Belfast, a research project is under way to fill the gaps in our knowledge.
Pete Laming and his colleagues want to find out how closely related Irish lizards are to their British counterparts and why they give birth to live young here as opposed to laying eggs as they do on the continent.
They like to bask on stone walls in the early morning, rough grassland also suits them well, but they are hard to spot.
The golden rule when it comes to spotting lizards is to listen out.
The research team at Queen`s would like to hear from you if you have seen lizards anywhere in Northern Ireland.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dr Pete Laming on 02890 972269 or by e-mail at p.laming@QUB.AC.UK
Irish lizards under threat