Lizard

The term "lizard" pattern was originally applied to the horizonally-striped French patterns of the 1950s that were direct descendants of the original British brushstroke pattern of the Second World War. The French generally referred to the pattern as tenue de leópard (leopard pattern), and the origins of the term "lizard" for this design are uncertain. Nevertheless, it seems to be the most widely accepted term among historians and collectors for the original French design, and the innumerable derivative patterns that were spawned thereafter.

There are generally two types of lizard patterns, those with horizontal orientation and those with vertical orientation. The original French "lizard" patterns were horizontal, but those developed by Portugal shortly thereafter were vertical yet in other respects influenced by the same design. We therefore categorize both vertical and horizontal designs as "lizard," as both styles have their tributary designs which have continued to be produced today.

Tiger stripe pattern camouflage is derived from the "lizard" design, and is essentially the same type of camouflage, but of a more consistent strain.

Horizontal Lizard Camouflage Patterns

• The original French tenue de leópard design was printed using a number of different fabrics and dyes, producing a multitude of different designs over the course of approximately ten years (most used concurrently) rather than one single pattern.

• An Asian made copy of the French lizard pattern, worn by a number of African nations including Chad, Gabon, Rwanda, Sudan, et al.

• Cuban "lizard" camouflage has been in production since the 1970s, with a distinctively grey colorway. The pattern was also used by FAPLA in Angola.

• The Croatian "lizard" patterns seen here were copied from originals produced in Yugoslavia.

• The Greek Armed Forces have been wearing "lizard" camouflage patterns since the 1970s.

• An Iraqi pattern from the 1980s is seen here.

• The Ministry of Internal Affairs and some special forces units of the Russian Armed Forces also wear "lizard" pattern camouflage.

• A unique "red lizard" pattern was developed and worn by Syrian airborne and commando units during the 1970s and 1980s.