Northern Legless Lizard
ExploreReptiles
Northern Legless Lizard
Anniella pulchra
The Northern Legless Lizard is a special lizard that doesn't have legs! It has a shiny, smooth body and loves to burrow in the sand. This lizard is great at hiding and can be found in sunny places.
Habitat: Desert
Appearance
The Northern Legless Lizard has a slender, worm-like body covered in smooth, shiny scales, often golden-brown or silvery-grey. It completely lacks limbs, appearing similar to a snake, but possesses tiny eyelids and ear openings that snakes do not.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyAnguidaeGenusAnniella
Category
ReptilesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It has eyelids and can blink, unlike most snakes!
Legless lizards "swim" through loose sand with impressive ease!
These lizards can live for over a decade in the wild.
They use their strong, shovel-like snout for digging tunnels.
Special abilities
Ability
Tail Detach
Northern Legless Lizard can drop its wiggling tail to confuse predators, allowing the lizard to escape safely.
Ability
Live Baby Maker
Northern Legless Lizard gives birth to live young, which helps protect its babies from harsh environmental conditions.
Ability
Hidden Thermostat
Northern Legless Lizard can warm up by staying just under the sand surface, helping it control its body temperature.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-20 cm
- Weight
- 0.005-0.015 kg
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years
- Top Speed
- 0.5 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 1-4
Diet & Feeding
Tiny hunters, they feast on small insects and their larvae found hiding underground in the soil.
Primary Foods
- beetle larvae
- termites
- ants
- spiders
- isopods
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
California Kingsnake
Lampropeltis californiae
A common snake predator in its native California habitat.
eaten by
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Hunts from above in open areas where the lizard might surface.
hunts
Western Subterranean Termite
Reticulitermes hesperus
A primary food source, often found within its underground tunnels.
hunts
California Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex californicus
Eats these ants found while foraging under rocks and soil.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Burrowing
Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
Camouflaged
Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Speedster
This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see a lizard, watch it from a distance and don't try to touch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Northern Legless Lizard?
10-20 cm
How much does Northern Legless Lizard weigh?
0.005-0.015 kg
How long does Northern Legless Lizard live?
10-15 years
How fast can Northern Legless Lizard move?
0.5 km/h
What does Northern Legless Lizard eat?
Tiny hunters, they feast on small insects and their larvae found hiding underground in the soil.
Where is Northern Legless Lizard usually found?
Desert
How does Northern Legless Lizard hunt?
Foraging
How many eggs does Northern Legless Lizard lay?
1-4
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