Legless Lizard

This group of smaller lizards is also called glass lizards.  They are somewhat larger lizards with ear openings and eyelids but no appendages.  They also have a very long tail with "fracture planes."  Fracture planes are weaknesses in the tail that allow it to break off in one of many different spots.  If a predator grabs the lizard's tail, the body of the lizard, which contains all the vital organs, may escape while the tail wiggles wildly.  In time, the lizard will regenerate a new tail.  These lizards can be found in vacant lots, sparse wooded areas or many other sandy habitats.  They are adept burrowers so they are rarely seen above ground.  On sunny mornings, especially after heavy rains, they can be located as they bask in the sun or forage for insects.  They feed on a variety of invertebrates, including spiders and grasshoppers.  In the summer, female legless lizards lay 5-12 eggs under rotten logs or in underground mammal burrows.  Females often stay with the eggs until they hatch - about two months later.  The hatchlings, which are miniature replicas of the adults, grow to 2-3 feet in about 2 years.