Legless Lizard (e.g. Anniella (California))

ReptileLizardBurrower

Overview

“Legless lizard” is a name given to several unrelated groups of lizards that have independently lost their legs and taken on a snake-like, burrowing form. The California legless lizards (genus Anniella), shown here, are small, smooth, shiny lizards that live buried in loose, sandy soil; on the other side of the world, Australia's flap-footed lizards (family Pygopodidae) are limbless relatives of geckos. They are a striking example of evolution arriving at the same body plan many times over.

Although they look like snakes, legless lizards are true lizards, and several features give them away: most have movable eyelids (so they can blink), external ear openings, and a long, fragile tail that can break off — none of which snakes have.

Note: “legless lizard” spans several groups; details here use the California legless lizards (Anniella) as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Legless lizards live in a range of habitats depending on the group. California legless lizards favour loose, moist, sandy or loamy soils — beach dunes, sandy washes, and leaf litter — in which they burrow, often staying just beneath the surface. Flap-footed lizards of Australia and New Guinea occupy deserts, grasslands, and woodlands. As a whole, legless lizards are typically tied to soft soil, leaf litter, or dense ground cover suited to their burrowing, secretive lives.

Diet

Legless lizards are carnivores that eat small invertebrates — insects, insect larvae, spiders, and the like — hunted in the soil, leaf litter, and at the surface. California legless lizards take small prey just below or at the surface of the sand, while the larger flap-footed lizards eat insects, spiders, and sometimes other small lizards. Their diets reflect a life spent largely hidden underground or in cover.

Behavior

Without legs, these lizards move by undulating their bodies — California legless lizards effectively “swim” through loose sand just under the surface. They are mostly secretive and spend much of their time buried or hidden, emerging at the surface in mild, moist conditions or at dusk. The clues that they are lizards, not snakes, include blinkable eyelids, ear openings (in most), and a long, breakable tail that can be shed to distract a predator and later regrown. Many legless lizards give birth to live young. Their limbless form is an adaptation for slipping through sand and soil, not a sign that they are related to snakes.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Legless lizards are harmless and often unnoticed because of their burrowing habits, and they are frequently mistaken for small snakes when uncovered. Many are common, but some — such as certain California legless lizards tied to specific dune and sandy habitats — are of conservation concern due to habitat loss and disturbance. Leaving leaf litter and natural soil undisturbed helps them. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the legless lizard