I found a Burton’s legless lizard (Lialis burtonis) today. It was sunning itself on a gravel path in a park in Springwood. I photographed it.
Burton’s legless lizard (Lialis burtonis)
Update:
I don’t keep any lizards, legless or otherwise, as pets. If you’re after a legless lizard as a pet, have a look at this listing of reptiles for sale in Australia. Legless lizards are uncommon in captivity in Australia. Burton’s legless lizards only eat other lizards, which makes them a bit tricky to keep as a pet.
It’s illegal to take reptiles from the wild and keep them as pets.
Update: 12 March 2008
This page is one of the most popular posts on my blog. It’s the number 1 result from Google for the words “Burton’s legless lizard”. Below are some more Burton’s legless lizards I’ve seen since first writing this post.
Burton’s legless lizard found on Rottnest island.
Burton’s legless lizard found near Springbrook, Qld.
Burton’s legless lizard found near Moranbah, Qld.
Burton’s legless lizard from the Pilbara in Western Australia
I live in North Rocks – Sydney. During my 45 years living at the same address I have found many of what I call legless lizards. The ones here do have legs but their legs are no longer than about 5mm in total length. Their movement is by slithering like a snake & therefore do not use their legs at all. As I am relocating a rock retaining wall, I have seen about ten in the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately two have been killed by rocks moving onto them. As I have plenty of blocks of wood, as firewood,leaves from deciduous trees & loose rocks, there are plenty of places for them to live. I have moved some to safer areas if it looks like they might get harmed. The longest I have seen here is about 9 inches or 230mm. They are shiny light brown in colour. They are only found under wood or rocks. I do have some shy blue tongue lizards here, but hundreds of sun lizards. They are up to 4 inches or 100mm long.
Hi Gary,
Do you have a photo of them? They might be a species of Anomalopus:
http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Scincidae/Anomalopus/