Slender Glass Lizard
Ophisaurus attenuatus
Description: 22-42" (56-106.7 cm). Stiff legless lizard with eyelids and external ear openings. White markings in center of back scales. Groove along sides, dark stripes or speckling below groove.
Subspecies: Western Slender Glass Lizard (O. a. attenuatus), tail less than 2 1/2 times head and body length; s. Wisconsin, Illinois, and w. Indiana, south to Louisiana, west to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Eastern Slender Glass Lizard (O. a. longicaudus), tail more than 2 1/2 times head and body length; e. coastal states, Virginia to e. Louisiana and Tennessee and s. Kentucky.
Breeding: Mates in May. Clutches of 6-17 eggs laid June to July. Female broods eggs.
Habitat: Dry grassland and dry open woodland.
Range: Virginia to Florida, west to Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, north to s. Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Discussion: Diurnal. When held, this lizard squirms and wriggles vigorously in an attempt to escape. If the tail is grabbed or takes a blow, it may shatter into several pieces - hence the name glass lizard.
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