Pygopodidae (Legless Lizards)

Pygopodidae (legless lizards) Distribution: Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands.

The family includes 7 genera with 41 species.

Aprasia Delma Lialis Ophidiocephalus Paradelma Pletholax Pygopus Aprasia Delma Lialis Ophidiocephalus Paradelma Pletholax Pygopus By external appearance, the family strongly resembles snakes.

Size ranges from 15 to 120 cm. Coloration most often varies from dark brown to pale yellowish; patterning may include spots or stripes, or be absent. Larger species live on the soil surface among vegetation, unlike smaller ones, which live under stones or have a burrowing lifestyle. Most representatives feed on small invertebrates. Legless lizards have an elongated snake-like body, which gave rise to their name. After regeneration, the tail never reaches its former size. Forelimbs are absent. In many cases hindlimbs are also absent or are present only as barely noticeable appendages. The external ear opening is either inconspicuous or overgrown by skin in connection with transition to a burrowing lifestyle.

Pygopus steelescotti Pygopus nigriceps Pygopus lepidopodus Sources: https://all-lizards.ru/cheshuenogi-pygopodidae.html