Burton’s Legless Lizard:
is also known as Burton’s Snake Lizard (Lialis burtonis). This
unusual reptile is found throughout mainland Australia as well as the Torres
Strait Islands to the north. This is a true legless lizard with what appears
to be a snake’s body terminating in a lizard’s head. Burton’s Legless
Lizard reaches a length of about 30 centimetres. Two small triangular flaps,
on each side of the body, are the vestiges of the hind limbs. The lizard
illustrated appeared on our back patio one afternoon in January 2004. As you
can see, this specimen is a uniform grey colour without any pattern. The
species is highly variable both in body colour and skin pattern.
We have observed Burton’s Legless Lizard in the Warrumbungle National Park,
central west New South Wales. One was sighted crossing a walking track, at
night, with a smaller lizard firmly clasped in its jaws. Apparently Burton’s
Legless Lizard dines mainly on other lizards and is active both by day and
night.
In nine years this is the only the second sighting of Burton’s Legless
Lizard at Yallaroo. Another legless lizard, Delma
tincta, is more common.
Some of this information was gleaned from an excellent book:
Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia by Harold G. Cogger. Published
by Reed Books.