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Yes—many lizards lay eggs. They are oviparous, meaning the female deposits eggs that develop outside her body. However, egg-laying is not universal across lizards. Some lizards give birth to live young, and the common or viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is especially unusual because some populations lay eggs while others give birth to live young. Animal Diversity Web reports that the reason for this difference is not known.
There is no single “lizard egg” pattern. Species differ in where they put a nest, how many eggs they produce, how long incubation lasts and whether a female remains nearby. The examples below show why a clutch size or incubation period for one lizard cannot be applied to all lizards.
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What “laying eggs” means in lizards
An egg-laying lizard is described as oviparous. The female produces eggs, places them in a nest or sheltered site, and the embryos develop there until hatching. Many familiar lizards use this strategy, but the group also includes viviparous species that give birth to live young.
“Lizards lay eggs” is therefore a correct general answer, but “all lizards lay eggs” is not. Reproductive mode is a species-level, and sometimes a population-level, trait. The available species accounts do not establish what percentage of all lizard species are egg-laying, so no reliable overall proportion should be assumed.
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The unusual case of Zootoca vivipara
Animal Diversity Web’s account of the common or viviparous lizard, authored by Chameka Day, states: “Viviparous lizards are the only lizard species that is known both to give live birth and to lay eggs.” In other words, different populations of this species use different reproductive modes. The account says the cause of that variation among individuals or populations remains unknown.
This example is why identifying a lizard by its name matters. A statement that is accurate for one population may be wrong for another, even within the same species.
Where egg-laying lizards put their eggs
Lizard eggs are generally placed where the nest will be sheltered from weather, predators and excessive drying, but the exact site varies greatly. The Animal Diversity Web accounts describe several distinct strategies.
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Buried nests
Texas spiny lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) females dig shallow holes, deposit the eggs and cover them with loose dirt. Greater earless lizards (Cophosaurus texanus) also bury their eggs; that account reports an incubation period of about 50 days.
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Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) lay their eggs in burrows. The female does not remain with the clutch after laying it. Burying or covering a nest can conceal it and provide a more stable environment than an exposed surface, but the accounts describe the locations and behaviors rather than a single rule shared by every lizard.
Chambers under cover
Tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus) place eggs in a chamber under rocks, in dirt or underground, then cover the chamber. This gives the eggs a protected cavity without requiring the same type of open, shallow nest used by some other species.
Zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) are reported to select sheltered, humid egg-laying sites. The description illustrates that moisture and cover can be important features of a nest, even when the account does not specify one universal nest structure.
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Eastern glass lizards (Ophisaurus ventralis) lay clutches in shallow nests. Unlike the Texas horned lizard account, the eastern glass lizard account reports that females remain at the nest during incubation. Remaining at a nest is not a general lizard behavior; it is a documented feature of this species’ reported parental care.
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- Large Capacity & Portable: Having a roomy 25L chamber volume and with a built-in handle, the incubator is easy to move around.
- Convenient & Durable: The power switch is located on the incubator and can be turned on or off during incubation. Visible glass door for you to view the incubation conditions without affecting the incubation process.
- Widely Use: Incubator can be used as an incubator to transport reptiles or amphibians; it is the best choice for transporting animals that require constant temperature.
Clutch size and incubation: species examples
A clutch is a group of eggs laid together. Clutch size can vary within a species, and the figures below come from individual Animal Diversity Web species accounts. They are examples, not averages for lizards as a whole.
| Species | Reported clutch information | Reported incubation | Nest or parental-care detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas spiny lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) | 2–20 eggs; average 11 | Not stated in the cited account | Female digs a shallow hole and covers the eggs with loose dirt |
| Greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) | Not stated in the cited account | About 50 days | Eggs are buried |
| Five-toed worm lizard (Bipes biporus) | 1–4 eggs; average 2 | Not stated in the cited account | Clutch information is reported, but no incubation figure is given here |
| Collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) | 1–8 eggs per breeding season | Approximately 55–65 days | The figure is for the breeding season, not necessarily one single nest |
| Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) | 14–37 eggs | 40–61 days | Eggs are deposited in burrows; the female does not stay with the clutch |
| Tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) | Not stated in the cited account | Not stated in the cited account | Egg chamber is under rocks, in dirt or underground, and is covered |
| Eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) | 5–17 eggs | 50–65 days | Shallow nest; female is reported to remain during incubation |
| Zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) | Average 4 eggs | Not stated in the cited account | Egg-laying sites are described as sheltered and humid |
| Emerald monitor (Varanus prasinus) | 2–4 eggs | Not stated in the cited account | Clutch size is reported; a nest type is not specified here |
| Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) | Depends on female size and environmental conditions | Not stated in the cited account | Clutch size is variable rather than a fixed number |
The table shows why a single answer such as “lizards lay about ten eggs” would be misleading. The reported examples range from a five-toed worm lizard clutch averaging two eggs to Texas horned lizard clutches reported at 14–37 eggs. Even within a species, the common side-blotched lizard account specifically links clutch size to the female’s size and environmental conditions.
How long do lizard eggs take to hatch?
Incubation is the period between laying and hatching. It is species-specific and can also be affected by the conditions surrounding a nest, so an incubation number from one account should not be used as a timetable for an unidentified egg.
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Among the documented examples, the greater earless lizard account reports about 50 days. The collared lizard account reports approximately 55–65 days, while the Texas horned lizard account reports 40–61 days. Eastern glass lizard eggs are reported to incubate for 50–65 days. These ranges overlap, but they do not mean the species have identical development; they are separate reports for separate lizards.
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Some accounts in the comparison provide clutch sizes or nesting behavior without an incubation figure. That is an evidence limit, not proof that the eggs hatch faster or slower. For an unidentified nest, species identification and local wildlife guidance are needed before assigning an expected hatch date.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do lizard mothers care for their eggs?
Parental care varies. Some females leave after covering a nest, while others remain nearby during incubation. The Texas horned lizard account explicitly reports that females do not stay with the clutch. In contrast, the eastern glass lizard account reports females remaining at shallow nests during incubation.
Other accounts describe nest construction or concealment without reporting continued attendance. Texas spiny lizards cover eggs with loose dirt; tree lizards cover an underground or rock-associated chamber; and several species bury eggs. Covering a nest is a nesting behavior, but it should not automatically be interpreted as prolonged parental care.
Because the source accounts do not describe one behavior shared by all lizards, it is unsafe to uncover a nest to check whether a mother is “supposed” to be there. The female may have left normally, or she may be nearby and easily disturbed.
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What to do if you find lizard eggs
- Leave the nest in place. Do not dig up, rotate or relocate eggs simply because the site looks exposed. Moving them can change their orientation or the conditions around the nest.
- Keep pets and people away. A temporary barrier that does not touch the nest can reduce accidental disturbance.
- Record the location without handling the eggs. A photograph from a distance, the habitat type and the date can help a wildlife professional identify the species.
- Contact a local wildlife agency or qualified reptile specialist if the nest is in immediate danger from construction, flooding or another unavoidable disturbance. Advice depends on the species and jurisdiction.
- Do not incubate wild eggs at home. A household container or improvised heat source can provide the wrong temperature or humidity and may violate local wildlife rules.
These precautions are especially important because a nest’s appearance does not reveal whether it belongs to an egg-laying species, how long incubation has already lasted or whether a female normally guards it.
Why the answer cannot be reduced to one rule
Lizards are a diverse group, and the documented examples differ along several independent dimensions: reproductive mode, clutch size, nest location, incubation period and parental care. The common side-blotched lizard account ties clutch size to female size and environmental conditions, while the Zootoca vivipara account shows that even reproductive mode can differ among populations.
For that reason, the most accurate answer to “Do lizards lay eggs?” is both direct and qualified: many do, but not all use the same reproductive strategy. A named species, and sometimes its population, is necessary before questions about egg number, nest placement, hatch time or maternal behavior can be answered reliably.
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