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REPTILIA:
SQUAMATA: DIPLODACTYLIDAE: Lialis
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Lialis burtonis
Author and date
Burton's legless lizard
Photos
& text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.
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A reddish legless lizard from the moist
grasslands in
southern Western Province, Papua New Guinea.
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Range:
Widely distributed in Australia and southern New
Guinea.
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Diagnosis:
A limbless lizard with tiny flaps near the cloaca, a
pointed snout, and no moveable eyelids.
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Description:
This species has the ability to open the
mouth to a greater degree than any other lizard, rivaling the gape of
snakes.
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Natural History:
An active crepuscular species found in a variety
of habitats, from arid grasslands to swamps. They feed on lizards and
snakes, which they simply overpower and swallow whole.
The long tail, which may exceed 2/3 total length,
is easily lost to predators, but is eventually regrown (note regrown tail
tip in specimen below).
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Reproduction:
Lays hard-shelled eggs.
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Taxonomy & Relationships:
There is only one other described species in the
genus, Lialis jicari, found only in New Guinea.
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Variation:
A gray, patternless specimen of Burton's
legless lizard photographed in dry,
red soil plains at Yathong Nature Preserve in central New South Wales,
Australia.
Below is a brown specimen from the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland.
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Additional Comments:
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Type Specimen:
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Literature: Click
on book to order a copy
Cogger,
Harold. 1999. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 6th edition.
Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-88359-048-4.
Cogger,
Harold. 1995. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 5th edition.
Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-8014-2739-8.
Ehmann,
Harald. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian animals: Reptiles. Angus
& Robertson. ISBN: 0-207-17379-6.
Greer,
Allen. 1989. The biology & evolution of Australian lizards.
Surrey Beatty & Sons. ISBN: 0-949324-21-3.
Hoser,
Raymond. 1989. Australian reptiles & frogs. Pierson & Co.
ISBN: 0-947068-08-2.
Swan,
Gerry, 1982. A field guide to the snakes and lizards of New South Wales.
Three Sisters Productions, Winmalee, NSW. ISBN 0-9590203-9.
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