Legless Lizards
Legless lizards are a large family of snake-like lizards.
Some
can attain almost 60 cm in length and the Common Scaly-foot has been
recorded over 75 cm in length. As with all Australian lizards they are
non-venomous and totally harmless.
Legless lizards have evolved an elongate, limbless form more recently than snakes; therefore all retain some primitive characteristics. Any of the following confirms it is a lizard:
* Broad, fleshy tongue
* Ear-opening behind eye
* The ability to blink – (snakes do not have eyelids)
* Tail as long as or much longer than body
When alarmed by a possible predator they may bark or squeak. Unfortunately the main defence for many of these lizards is to bluff a potential predator by mimicking a venomous snake. When confronted by a human, this defensive display often results in the harmless lizard meeting its unfortunate death with a shovel or stick.
