Legless lizards also known as glass lizards or slow worms, are often mistaken for snakes but they're not dangerous. Found all over the world, some of them can make good pets.
Legless lizards are lizards which, through evolution, lost their legs. Apparently, it was much easier for them to burrow under rocks and slide through thick vegetation without their legs getting in the way!
Depending on the geographical place, legless lizards have many other names such as glass lizards or slow worms. They're often mistaken for snakes because without their legs they look similar to a snake, but there are a few differences that can make you tell them apart.
Interestingly, not all of them are completely legless but some species have tiny, non-functional limbs.
There are plenty of legless lizard species around the world. Some of them are very thin and small, while others are big and bulky.
What do legless lizards eat?
Their diet depends on the species they belong to and the habitat they live in. Some of them eat insects, slugs, and worms, while others eat smaller lizards and snakes. You can read more about the diet of each type in the following paragraphs.
What is the difference between a legless lizard and a snake?
If you happen to spot a legless lizard from a distance, the main characteristic that will help you to identify it is probably the shape of the head. The head of a legless lizard follows the thickness of its body without being thicker. It's like a continuum.
Contrary, most snakes have a head which is flatter and wider in the area where the jaws are.
Other differences that can help you differentiate them are:
- Eyelids. Snakes don't have eyelids while most (but not all) lizards do.
- Ears. Snakes don't have external ears, while lizards do (two small holes on the back of their heads).
- Jaw structure. Snakes can dislocate their jaw to eat large prey. Legless lizards don't have this ability.
- Teeth. Snakes have fangs, while lizards don't.
Are legless lizards dangerous?
Until now, every legless lizard that has been discovered is not poisonous. However, even non-venomous bites can be infectious and painful, especially if the lizard is big enough. On the other hand, very small lizards usually have a weak bite that doesn't hurt.
Can a legless lizard regrow its tail?
When under attack, these lizards have an extraordinary defense mechanism. Their tail gets detached from their body. In some cases the tail stays active and moves in order to confuse the predator, while the lizard itself remains still, searching for the right timing to escape.
The lizard doesn't bleed during this process and the tail can regrow over time. In some species it reaches the same length as before while in others it's notably shorter.
The loss of the tail and the regeneration comes with a cost because the lizard is defenseless during this time and much of its energy is required to grow the tail back.
This is why you shouldn't handle these lizards or if needed, handle them as little as possible and with extra care.
Are legless lizards good pets?
Not all legless lizards are suitable for pets. Some of them are protected by law and it's forbidden to own one. However there are some species of legless lizards which you can have as pets, such as Burton's legless lizard and scheltopusik.
Legless lizard care
If you plan on getting a legless lizard for pet, you'll have to consider all the accessories you'll need. The basic things are:
- A terrarium. The terrarium should be horizontally oriented and its dimensions will depend on the size and number of the lizards you plan to host. For a single lizard like the Burton's legless lizard you see below, an adequate size is 36 inches (90 cm) long by 12 inches (12 cm) wide.
- An under-tank heating pad at one end. This is to create a warmer spot for the lizard.
- A suitable bedding
- A hide in the end where the heating pad is. This will provide your lizard a secure place where it will feel safe and will be able to relax. One or more additional hides in other spots are also a good idea.
- A large water bowl
- Decorative bark and plants. Make sure that any branches you place inside the terrarium are secured and there's no danger to fall if the lizard climbs on them.
- A heat lamp and UVB lighting over the terrarium. Turn the heat lamp on in the morning and off at night. The UVB lighting helps the lizard absorb calcium and synthesize vitamin D.
Some of the most interesting legless lizard types are mentioned below:
Burton’s Legless Lizard
Size: 11-40 inches (30 – 100 cm)
Lifespan: 20-35 years
Burton’s legless lizards can make good pets. They are intelligent creatures and don't require much care. The only thing you may find disturbing is that they eat other smaller lizards. This means that you'll have to feed your lizard other lizards.
Burton's legless lizard comes from Australia and like geckos, it hasn't eyelids. It is also known as flap-footed lizard because it has two very small, non-functional fleshy appendages where its hind legs should be.
It is attracted by movement and hunts during the night. If you decide to get one as a pet, you'll have to provide it with alive lizards for food, or if the lizards are pre-killed, you'll have to jiggle them so that they look like they're alive.
In general, Burton's lizards diet consists of:
- other lizards
- house geckos
- green anoles
- small snakes
Scheltopusik (pseudopus apodus) - the largest legless lizard
Size: 2-3 feet (60 - 90 cm) and can rarely reach 4 feet (120 cm)
Lifespan: 20 to 30 years
Scheltopusik is the largest legless lizard, so it's no wonder that it is also called giant glass lizard or European glass lizard. Except the size, it's main characteristic is a groove which runs alongside both sides of the body.
Its diet consists of:
- Snails, slugs and worms
- Smaller lizards
- Small birds
- Small mammals like mice
- Eggs
It is suitable as a pet and in captivity it can also eat vegetables like carrots and peas and fruit like bananas, apricots, mangos and strawberries.
Scheltopusik isn't poisonous, but its bite can hurt a lot.
Slowworm (Anguis fragilis) of Europe
Lifespan: 10 - 30 years
Length: 20cm - 50cm (8in – 20in)
Also known as deaf adder or blindworm, this is the most common European legless lizard. It can be found all over Europe and it's not uncommon to spot one in house gardens and allotments.
A fascinating thing about them is that they're viviparous, meaning they lay their eggs internally, inside their body. When they hatch, they stay for a while inside their moms body, feeding of the yolk of the eggs and when they're ready their mom releases them just like giving birth.
Their diet consists of worms, spiders, snails and slugs.
Can you keep a slow worm as a pet?
They're not suitable for pets and they don't do well in captivity. Moreover, in some countries, it may be illegal to own one (you'll have to check your local laws for this).
The Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)
The Eastern glass lizard lives in the south eastern region of the United States, mainly in Florida. It prefers flatwoods and sandy habitats near wetlands. It is called glass lizard because it detaches its tail when it is under attack. This mechanism makes the tail look like shattered glass pieces.
Lifespan: 4 – 10 years
Length: 18 - 43 in (46 - 108 cm).
Their diet consists of insects, spiders, other small reptiles and small rodents.
The California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra)
The California Legless Lizard is a small and thin lizard endemic to California and Mexico. They prefer sandy habitats near coastal areas or forest areas.
Lifespan: 4 -10 years years
Length: 12 - 13 inches (30 – 33 cm)
Similar posts you may like:
Leave a Reply