A legless lizard often mistaken for a snake. Distinguished by external ear openings and movable eyelids — true snakes have neither. Named for the brittle tail that breaks easily into "glass-like" fragments.

Also called: Glass Snake (folk; misleading), Eastern Glass Lizard

Native status: Native to southeastern US

§ Quick facts

SizeTotal length 45–110 cm (18–43 in)
Weight40–250 g
LifespanWild 10–20 years
OrderSquamata
FamilyAnguidae

§ Encyclopedia

The eastern glass lizard is a species of legless lizard in the family Anguidae and the longest and heaviest species of glass lizards in the genus Ophisaurus, endemic to the Southeastern United States. The streamlined, legless species is often confused with snakes. Glass lizards differ from snakes as they possess a moveable eyelid and an external ear opening as well as a lateral groove that separates the different types of scales on the animal, while all three of these features are absent in snakes. Snakes also have flexible jaws while lizards do not. Ventralis comes from the Latin "venter" meaning belly; this is in reference to the snake-like movement.

Source: Wikipedia — Eastern glass lizard Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Long slender legless reptile with stiff body (cannot writhe like a snake); brown or olive with darker stripes or spots; obvious external ear openings and movable eyelids; deep groove along sides where body meets tail.

Similar species. True snakes (no movable eyelids, no ear openings; flexible body; unhinged jaw). Salamanders (no scales; moist skin).

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects, spiders, small lizards, small snakes, small mammals, bird eggs, earthworms.

Behavior. Looks like a snake but is actually a legless lizard. Key distinguishing features (vs. true snakes): movable eyelids, external ear openings, scaly belly identical to back scales (not enlarged belly scales), inability to unhinge jaw, and a tail that breaks off easily as a defense (the name "glass" comes from how readily the tail shatters). The shed tail wriggles violently for several minutes, distracting predators while the lizard escapes. Tail regrows but is shorter and unmarked.

§ Range

Southeastern US Coastal Plain

§ Habitat

Pine flatwoods, sandhills, longleaf savannas

§ Threats

Loss of longleaf pine habitat, fire suppression, persecution as "snakes."

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern glass lizard is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support longleaf pine restoration. Use prescribed fire. Learn to identify glass lizards vs. snakes.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Davidson College Department of Biology
  • Virginia Herpetological Society
  • iNaturalist
  • IUCN Red List 2011