Stats

Lifespan

10-15 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate grassland

Range

North America

Movement

Slithering

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

This legless lizard lives in the grassy fields of the Southeastern United States. It can shatter its own tail into several pieces to distract predators while escaping.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature lizard cuts itself free from its egg and starts hunting tiny insects within days.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds repeatedly as it grows, often duller-colored than adults and quick to dart for cover.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown with adult coloration and size.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Anguidae

Genus

Ophisaurus

Species

Ophisaurus ventralis