European Glass Lizard
The European Glass Lizard, also known as the Sheltopusik or the European Legless Lizard, is a species of large glass lizard.
The European Glass Lizard is heavy-bodied and snake-like in appearance, reaching a maximum length of around 4 feet. It is usually yellow-brown or warm brown in colour and darkens with age. It tends to be paler on the ventral surface and the head and has a ring-like or segmented appearance that makes it look like a large Slow Worm. It has a distinctive fold of skin down each side called a lateral groove. Tiny vestiges of rear legs are sometimes visible near the vent. Though the legs are barely discernible, the European Glass Lizard can be quickly distinguished from a snake by its ears, eyelids and ventral scales.
The European Glass Lizard can be found in the Balkans region as far north as north west Croatia, north Greece, south Macedonia and south and east Bulgaria. It inhabits fairly dry habitats in open country such as short grassland or sparsely wooded hills where it feeds on snails, slugs, beetles and other invertebrates and small mammals such as mice and shrews. It is diurnal but avoids the hottest times of the day and is often most active after rain.
The European Glass Lizard can move fairly fast when alarmed but it lacks stamina. Due to its size, it tends to respond to harassment or threats by hissing, biting and musking. It is less likely to drop off its tail than some other lizard species. However, where this does occur, the released tail may break into pieces leading to the myth that the lizard can shatter like glass (hence glass lizard) and reassemble itself later. In reality, if the tail is lost it will grow back slowly but it is often shorter and darker.
About 10 weeks after mating, the female European Glass Lizard lays 6 to 10 eggs which she hides under bark or a stone. The young hatch after 45 to 55 days. They are typically about 6 inches long and usually start to eat after 4 days.
Date: 18th May 2018
Location: Nos Kaliakra, Dobrich Province, Bulgaria
The European Glass Lizard is heavy-bodied and snake-like in appearance, reaching a maximum length of around 4 feet. It is usually yellow-brown or warm brown in colour and darkens with age. It tends to be paler on the ventral surface and the head and has a ring-like or segmented appearance that makes it look like a large Slow Worm. It has a distinctive fold of skin down each side called a lateral groove. Tiny vestiges of rear legs are sometimes visible near the vent. Though the legs are barely discernible, the European Glass Lizard can be quickly distinguished from a snake by its ears, eyelids and ventral scales.
The European Glass Lizard can be found in the Balkans region as far north as north west Croatia, north Greece, south Macedonia and south and east Bulgaria. It inhabits fairly dry habitats in open country such as short grassland or sparsely wooded hills where it feeds on snails, slugs, beetles and other invertebrates and small mammals such as mice and shrews. It is diurnal but avoids the hottest times of the day and is often most active after rain.
The European Glass Lizard can move fairly fast when alarmed but it lacks stamina. Due to its size, it tends to respond to harassment or threats by hissing, biting and musking. It is less likely to drop off its tail than some other lizard species. However, where this does occur, the released tail may break into pieces leading to the myth that the lizard can shatter like glass (hence glass lizard) and reassemble itself later. In reality, if the tail is lost it will grow back slowly but it is often shorter and darker.
About 10 weeks after mating, the female European Glass Lizard lays 6 to 10 eggs which she hides under bark or a stone. The young hatch after 45 to 55 days. They are typically about 6 inches long and usually start to eat after 4 days.
Date: 18th May 2018
Location: Nos Kaliakra, Dobrich Province, Bulgaria
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Also in: Bulgaria
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