# Snake-eyed Lizard (*Ophisops elegans*) The Snake-eyed Lizard is a small, colorful lizard with beautiful eyes that look like snakes! It loves to bask in the sun and can be found in warm places. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Desert ![Snake-eyed Lizard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ophisops_elegans.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kiril Kapustin, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ophisops_elegans.jpg) ## Appearance The Snake-eyed Lizard has a slender body with smooth, overlapping scales, typically brown or greyish-brown, often featuring pale stripes along its back and sides. Its most distinctive feature is the lack of movable eyelids, having a clear, fixed spectacle over each eye, much like a snake's. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Lacertidae - **Genus:** Ophisops ## Interesting facts - Sometimes they 'wave' a front leg to communicate with other lizards! - Their diet helps control insect populations, making them garden heroes! - They can drink tiny dew drops off leaves and plants to stay hydrated. - They use their long tails for balance when darting quickly! ## Special abilities - **Tail Escape:** Snake-eyed Lizards can shed their tail if caught, which wiggles to distract a predator while the lizard escapes to safety. - **Speedy Sprint:** Snake-eyed Lizards can dart across open ground very quickly, a burst of speed that helps them catch insects or flee danger. - **Sun Charger:** Snake-eyed Lizards bask in sunny spots to warm their bodies, giving them the vital energy needed to hunt and move swiftly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-6 - **Incubation:** 40-60 days ## Diet & Feeding This little lizard loves to snack on tiny insects and other small invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** ants, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, small larvae - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — A common ant species eaten by the lizard. - **Eats:** Mealworm Beetle (*Tenebrio molitor*) — Adult beetles are a source of protein for the lizard. - **Eaten by:** Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — A common bird of prey that hunts small lizards. - **Eaten by:** [Caspian Whipsnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/caspian-whipsnake) (*Coluber caspius*) — A large, agile snake that preys on lizards. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and never try to catch a lizard. They are best left in their homes! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Snake-eyed Lizard? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Snake-eyed Lizard? 15-20 cm ### How much does Snake-eyed Lizard weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Snake-eyed Lizard live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Snake-eyed Lizard move? 10 km/h ### What does Snake-eyed Lizard eat? This little lizard loves to snack on tiny insects and other small invertebrates. ### Where is Snake-eyed Lizard usually found? Desert ### How does Snake-eyed Lizard hunt? Pursuit ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Snake-eyed Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snake-eyed-lizard)