Eastern glass lizard

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Eastern glass lizard
Eastern Glass Lizard.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Anguidae
Genus: Ophisaurus
Species:
O. ventralis
Binomial name
Ophisaurus ventralis
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Ophisaurus ventralis distribution.png
Synonyms [2] [3] [4]
  • Anguis ventralis
    Linnaeus, 1766
  • Ophisaurus ventralis
    — Daudin, 1803
  • Ophisaurus ventralis
    — Cope, 1900

The eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) is a species of legless lizard in the family Anguidae and the longest and heaviest species of glass lizards in he genus Ophisaurus, [5] endemic to the Southeastern United States. The streamlined, legless species is often confused with snakes. Glass lizards differ from snakes as they possess a moveable eyelid and an external ear opening as well as a lateral groove that separates the different types of scales on the animal, [6] all three of these features are absent in snakes. Snakes also have flexible jaws while lizards do not. [5] Ventralis comes from the Latin "venter" meaning belly; this is in reference to the snake-like movement. [7]

Description

Adults of O. ventralis grow to 46–108 cm (18–43 in) in total length, although the head-body length is only 30.5 cm (12.0 in) at most. There are 99 or more scales along the lateral groove. In this species, no dark longitudinal stripes are present below the lateral groove or under the tail, and there is no distinct mid-dorsal stripe. The tail serves purposes such as balance and defense. [8] The neck is marked with a series of mostly vertical, or highly irregular, white marks, with white markings on posterior corners of scales. Palatine teeth are present. [9] Dorsally, older specimens have a pattern consisting of numerous longitudinal dark lines or dashes. Occasionally, similar parallel lines cover the entire mid-dorsal area. Older adults may be greenish above and yellow below; this is the only Ophisaurus species that may have a greenish appearance. Juveniles are khaki-colored and usually have two dark stripes that run down the back. [10] O. ventralis are commonly mistaken as a species of snake because they lack limbs. Unlike snakes, they have moveable eyelids, external ear openings located behind their eyes, and inflexible jaws. [11] The three extant species of Ophisaurus that live in North America can be distinguished by their differences in number of teeth and sizes of skulls from skeletal analysis. [12]

No subspecies are currently recognized. [2]

Habitat

Eastern glass lizards are a common species near wetlands and moist soils. [13] O. ventralis habitat consists of flatwoods adjacent to wetlands with sandy soils. They heavily rely on prescribed fire to maintain their habitat. [14] They have also been found in tidal areas such as coastal dunes because they are resistant to salty conditions. [15] Eastern glass lizards are most active during the day and can be found foraging in open habitats but also like to take refuge beneath debris. [16]

A study in 2020 found O. ventralis using a crayfish burrow as habitat in southeastern Mississippi. Various invertebrates and vertebrates are known to use these burrows but this is the first time a lizard species has been documented using a crayfish burrow. Limited research has been done but it could represent more widespread behavior. [17] Direct mortality due to prescribed fire is of concern to land managers using fire as a management tool in the eastern glass lizard's habitat. [18]

Distribution

O. ventralis is commonly found from extreme southeastern Virginia to south Florida and west to Louisiana. They are restricted to the coastal plains of the southeastern United States, and populations are restricted by the Mississippi River. [19] [20] Isolated records exist of its occurrence in Oklahoma and Missouri. [10]

Diet

O. ventralis are opportunistic feeders that will eat almost anything that may cross their path, including insects, small mammals, eggs, small birds and sometimes even fruits or vegetation. Example's of prey they may feed on are: grasshoppers, crickets and beetles, spiders, small mice, snails, and the eggs of other reptiles and ground-nesting birds. They rely on their sense of smell and sharp eyesight to hunt during the day. [21] . Unlike snakes, glass lizards do not have flexible jaws, and this limits the size of prey items they can consume. They forage both above ground and underground in burrows. [22]

Predator and predator avoidance

Common predators of the eastern glass lizard include skunks, raccoons, foxes, snakes, and cats. They have the ability of tail autotomy, meaning their tail breaks off upon restraint. Their tail fragment will continue to writhe for several minutes after detachment to distract the predator and allow them to escape. [23]

Reproduction

O. ventralis is oviparous and lays around 5–15 eggs in late April to mid July. They eggs have an incubation time of 40-65 days and will tend to hatch around late summer. [24] Eggs are usually laid under cover or in depressions in sandy or loamy soil. Females will encircle their clutch but may retreat when approached and generally do not defend their eggs. However, they will gather them back up if they are scattered around. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anguidae</span> Family of lizards

Anguidae refers to a large and diverse family of lizards native to the Northern Hemisphere. Common characteristics of this group include a reduced supratemporal arch, striations on the medial faces of tooth crowns, osteoderms, and a lateral fold in the skin of most taxa. The group is divided into two living subfamilies, the legless Anguinae, which contains slow worms and glass lizards, among others, found across the Northern Hemisphere, and Gerrhonotinae, which contains the alligator lizards, native to North and Central America. The family Diploglossidae was also formerly included. The family contains about 87 species in 8 genera.

<i>Ophisaurus</i> Genus of lizards

Ophisaurus is a genus of superficially snake-like legless lizards in the subfamily Anguinae. Known as joint snakes, glass snakes, or glass lizards, they are so-named because their tails are easily broken; like many lizards, they have the ability to deter predation by dropping off part of the tail, which can break into several pieces, like glass. The tail remains mobile, distracting the predator, while the lizard becomes motionless, allowing eventual escape. This serious loss of body mass requires a considerable effort to replace, and can take years to do so. Despite this ability, the new tail is usually smaller than the original.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slender glass lizard</span> Species of reptile

The slender glass lizard is a legless lizard in the glass lizard subfamily (Anguinae). The species is endemic to the United States. Two subspecies are recognized. The lizard was originally believed to be a subspecies of the eastern glass lizard. Their name comes from their easily broken tail which they can break off themselves without ever being touched. It is difficult to find a specimen with an undamaged tail. The lizard eats a variety of insects and small animals, including smaller lizards. Snakes and other animals are known to prey on the species. Humans have a part in destroying their environment and killing their food supply with insecticides. The lizard is considered to be a least-concern species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), though it is vulnerable in Iowa and endangered in Wisconsin. It is important to note that the streamlined, legless species is often confused with snakes. Glass Lizards, however, differ from snakes as they possess a moveable eyelid, which is absent in snakes. Another way to distinguish glass lizards from snakes is the presence of an external ear opening, which are absent in snakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheltopusik</span> Species of lizard

The sheltopusik, also commonly called Pallas's glass lizard, the European legless lizard, or the European glass lizard, is a species of large glass lizard found from Southern Europe to Central Asia.

<i>Plestiodon fasciatus</i> Species of reptile

The (American) five-lined skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to North America. It is one of the most common lizards in the eastern U.S. and one of the seven native species of lizards in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet kingsnake</span> Species of snake

The scarlet kingsnake or scarlet milk snake is a species of kingsnake found in the southeastern and eastern portions of the United States. Like all kingsnakes, they are nonvenomous. They are found in pine flatwoods, hydric hammocks, pine savannas, mesic pine-oak forests, prairies, cultivated fields, and a variety of suburban habitats; not unusually, people find scarlet kingsnakes in their swimming pools, especially during the spring. Until recently, and for much of the 20th century, scarlet kingsnakes were considered a subspecies of the milk snake; however, Pyron and Bubrink demonstrated the phylogenetic distinction of this species and its closer relationship to the mountain kingsnakes of the southwestern United States. These largely fossorial snakes are the smallest of all the species within the genus Lampropeltis, usually ranging from 40 to 50 cm at maturity. The maximum recorded length is in Jonesboro, AR 76.2 cm (30.0 in). Hatchlings range in size from 8 to 18 cm .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern indigo snake</span> Species of snake

The eastern indigo snake is a species of large, non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. Native to the southeastern United States, it is the longest native snake species in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern hognose snake</span> Species of snake

The eastern hog-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. This species prefers habitats with sandy soils and a combination of grass fields and forest edges. They come in many different colorations and have the identifiable upturned "snout". They can be found in captivity but are a more difficult species to keep due to a specialized diet of toads.

<i>Cemophora coccinea</i> Species of snake

Cemophora coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. There are two subspecies of C. coccinea that are recognized as being valid. The Texas scarlet snake was previously considered a subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern racer</span> Species of snake

The eastern racer, or North American racer, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America and Central America. Eleven subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, are recognized, which as a group are commonly referred to as the eastern racers. The species is monotypic in the genus Coluber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mud snake</span> Species of snake

The mud snake is a species of nonvenomous, semiaquatic, colubrid snake endemic to the southeastern United States.

<i>Rhineura floridana</i> Species of reptile

Rhineura floridana, known commonly as the Florida worm lizard, graveyard snake, or thunderworm, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Rhineuridae. The species is the only extant member of the genus Rhineura, and is found primarily in Florida but has been recorded in Lanier County, Georgia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mimic glass lizard</span> Species of reptile

The mimic glass lizard is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the Southeastern United States. The mimic glass lizard is dark brown to black with a dark middorsal stripe down the body and on most of the tail. They have 3-4 dark stripes separated by pale stripes above the lateral grooves. They have a very distinct anatomy of the axis specifically when it comes to their second vertebra which could be attributed to an ecological adaptation, feeding, and/or defensive behavior that requires high head and neck mobility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island glass lizard</span> Species of reptile

The island glass lizard is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern milk snake</span> Subspecies of snake

Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum, commonly known as the eastern milk snake or eastern milksnake, is a subspecies of the milk snake. The nonvenomous, colubrid snake is indigenous to eastern and central North America.

Walter E. Meshaka Jr. is an American herpetologist and natural historian. He was the supervisory curator for the four National Parks in southern Florida from 1995 to 2000. In 2000 he became the Senior Curator of Zoology and Botany at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His research has been covered by Lawrence Journal-World, among other news outlets.

Dopasia buettikoferi, also known commonly as the Bornean glass snake and Buettikofer's glass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to Indonesia and Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hart's glass lizard</span> Species of lizard

Dopasia harti, also known commonly as the Chinese glass lizard and Hart's glass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to southeastern Asia.

References

  1. ↑ Hammerson, G.A. (2007). "Ophisaurus ventralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2007: e.T63721A12710178. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63721A12710178.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Ophisaurus ventralis ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  3. ↑ "Ophisaurus ventralis ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  4. ↑ Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Ophisaurus ventralis, pp. 60-61).
  5. 1 2 Holman, Alan. "Ophisaurus Glass lizards". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles.
  6. ↑ "Virginia Herpetological Society". www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  7. ↑ Holbrook, John Edwards (1842). "Ophisaurus ventralis – Linnaeus". North American Herpetology; or, A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States. 2: 139–142. doi: 10.5962/p.326791 .
  8. ↑ Shufeldt, Robert W (1882). "Remarks upon the osteology of Opheosaurus ventralis."". Proceedings of the United States National Museum.
  9. ↑ Holbrook, John Edwards (1842). "Ophisaurus ventralis – Linnaeus". North American Herpetology; or, A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States. 2: 139–142. doi: 10.5962/p.326791 . S2CID   247888954.
  10. 1 2 Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. (First published in 1958). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. xviii + 429 pp. + 48 plates. ISBN   0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN   0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Ophisaurus ventralis, pp. 132-133, Figure 30 + Plate 13 + Map 95).
  11. ↑ Liniewski, Rachel Marie (2015-01-01). "Vestigial skeletal structures in seven species of lizards in the familes scincidae and anguidae". ETD Collection for Fayetteville State University: 1–33.
  12. ↑ Auffenburg, W. (1955). "Glass Lizards (Ophisaurus) in the Pleistocene and Pliocene of Florida". Herpetologica. 11 (2): 133–136. ISSN   0018-0831. JSTOR   3889977.
  13. ↑ Rodgers, James, A; Schwikert, Stephen, T; Breen, Timothy (2002). "Eastern Glass Lizard as Probable Prey of Great Egrets" (PDF). Florida Field Naturalist. 2: 40.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Kaufmann, Greg; Smith, Henry T.; Engeman, Richard; Meshaka, Walter; Cowan, Ernest M. (2007-01-01). "OPHISAURUS VENTRALIS (Eastern Glass Lizard). FIRE-INDUCED MORTALITY". USDA Wildlife Services - Staff Publications.
  15. ↑ Adams, S., Bland, M., Glon, M., & Myers, G. (2020). Ophisaurus ventralis (Eastern Glass Lizard) habitat use. Herpetological Review, 51, 602-602.
  16. ↑ Neill, Wilfred T. (1948). "The Lizards of Georgia". Herpetologica. 4 (4): 153–158. ISSN   0018-0831.
  17. ↑ Adams SB, Bland MR, Glon MG, Myers GA (2020). "Ophisaurus ventralis (Eastern Glass Lizard) habitat use" (PDF). Herpetological Review. 51 (3): 602. Retrieved 2 March 2023– via fs.usda.gov.
  18. ↑ Kaufmann, Greg; Smith, Henry T.; Engeman, Richard; Meshaka, Walter; Cowan, Ernest M. (2007-01-01). "OPHISAURUS VENTRALIS (Eastern Glass Lizard). FIRE-INDUCED MORTALITY". USDA Wildlife Services - Staff Publications.
  19. ↑ Zadik, J. (4 December 2019). "Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)". South Carolina Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  20. ↑ Cliburn, J. W. (1959). The Distribution of Some Mississippi Lizards. The American Midland Naturalist, 61(2), 414–418. doi : 10.2307/2422510
  21. ↑ Gloyd, Howard, K (1922). ""The Amphibians and Reptiles of Franklin County, Kansas". Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. 31: 115–141. doi:10.2307/3624134. JSTOR   3624134.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Brimley, C. S. (1905). "Notes on the Food and Feeding Habits of Some American Reptiles". Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society. 21 (4): 149–155. ISSN   0013-6220.
  23. ↑ Fitch, Henry S. (2003). "A Comparative Study of Loss and Regeneration of Lizard Tails". Journal of Herpetology. 37 (2): 395–399. ISSN   0022-1511.
  24. ↑ Brooks, John (2023-09-03). "The Fascinating Eastern Glass Lizard". Wild Explained. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  25. ↑ "Virginia Herpetological Society". www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com. Retrieved 2022-04-05.

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