Eastern Glass Lizard or Legless Lizard

Ophisaurus ventralis

Show Name: “Ophisaurus”

Hissstory: Zoo Transfer.

eastern glass lizard

Zoo Diet: Ophisaurus munches on crickets, roaches, earthworms, and superworms.

Natural Diet: Glass lizards enjoy insects, larvae, spiders, arthropods, small snakes and lizards. They especially love grasshoppers.

Size: Legless Lizards can grow 24 – 36 inches long.

Range: Southeastern United States as far north as southeastern Virginia.

Habitat: Legless lizards like to hide in sandy soil in pine forests and hard wood pine mix forests.

Lifespan: These small lizards can live over 10 years.

Reproduction: A female will lay 8-17 eggs from June to August. She will coil around the eggs, but not protect them. They will take two months to hatch.

Conservation: Virginia classified the Eastern Glass Lizard as an “Endangered Species.” They are only found in one small part of Virginia and require special protection.

Cool Facts: The Eastern Glass Lizard is a lizard – not a snake! This lizard has no legs, but does have eyelids and ears that snakes do not have. This lizard also has the ability to detach its long tail in case of attack. The tail will re-generate as long as the lizard finds food and stays healthy.