Photo by Joan Bockman

Have you seen this slinky creature? No, it’s not a snake! This is a small slender lizard with no legs. Mostly brown, with a yellow belly, it has a shovel-shaped snout , eyelids, and smooth shiny scales. Found most commonly in coastal Southern California, it prefers cool moist locations and burrows in sandy soil or leaf litter. It eats a variety of insects, such as beetles and termites, and spiders. Like many lizards, it will detach its tail to distract potential predators which include snakes, birds, and weasels. Pictured is one found near the BVAS Nature Center by center manager, Annette Schneider.

Like so many species, much of its natural habitat has been lost to development, placing it in the “vulnerable” category because its numbers are currently decreasing. It prefers coastal dune areas and stream terraces and can be found hiding under rocks, logs or leaf debris. The area surrounding our lagoon is the ideal habitat for these interesting and unusual legless lizards. You can create lizard habitats in your yard by including natural areas with leaf litter to support insects and larvae for food and rocks, dried branches, and native shrubs to provide hiding spots.

Spot any reptiles in your yard recently?

See photos and read more about this interesting reptile at http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/a.stebbinsi.html