Help with lizard identity, please...

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   Last week, I was walking on Rhinog Fawr in North Wales at a height of around 600m.
I spotted a small lizard sat on a lump of stone. It was only around 50-60mm in length (including tail). The main body colour was dark brown, with rusty red stripe and rusty red spots. I was most surprised to see the creature as it was a fairly cold, damp and overcast day. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a photo. If this is a common species, please forgive my ignorance, but I cannot find any similar photos on any websites.
All help gratefully received.

Bryan.

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bryanchadwick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote bryanchadwick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Help with lizard identity, please... Posted: 13 Aug 2006 at 2:48am
	Last week, I was walking on Rhinog Fawr in North Wales at a height of around 600m. I spotted a small lizard sat on a lump of stone. It was only around 50-60mm in length (including tail). The main body colour was dark brown, with rusty red stripe and rusty red spots. I was most surprised to see the creature as it was a fairly cold, damp and overcast day. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a photo. If this is a common species, please forgive my ignorance, but I cannot find any similar photos on any websites. All help gratefully received. Bryan.

administrator Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote administrator Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Aug 2006 at 5:52am
	Hi Bryan, First thought would be common lizard as they are fairly variable in colouration, but the rusty red stripe and weather conditions makes me wonder if it could have been a newt, most are now terrestrial the breeding season largely being over (and certainly in the SE most of the ponds we usually monitor have dried up in any case!). What was the approximate time of the sighting? Newts are usually only active after dusk though I have occassionally seen them out and about during the day on very overcast cool days.

bryanchadwick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote bryanchadwick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 Aug 2006 at 3:17am
	Thanks Gemma, The time would have been around 14.00. Do you know of any photo galleries on the web, where I could check out photos of newts in their various guises and possibly get a definite identity? Bryan.