Accustomed to living on soft sand it can burrow into, it has difficulty moving on the hard surface. Scientists have discovered four new species of legless lizards in California, including one species that lives beneath the sand dunes near LAX. Certain species of legless lizards are listed as endangered. Males are usually larger. If you pick up a legless lizard, you'll notice that it doesn't feel quite like a snake, and that's in part because of this difference in body-to-tail proportion. The Ballona Wetlands are home to many native species, from more common animals like coyotes, great blue herons, and flame skimmer dragonflies to rarer species like the California legless lizard, the tidewater goby (fish), and the least bittern (bird). Largest legless lizards can reach 2 to 3 feet in length (including the tail) and 11 to 21 ounces in weight. (Formerly recognized as Black Legless Lizard - Anniella pulchra nigra Fischer, 1885) This form of Anniella from the coast of Monterey Bay in Monterey County was formerly recognized as the subspecies Anniella pulchra nigra - Black Legless Lizard, but it is actually just a melanistic form of Anniella pulchra. A Southern California Legless Lizard writhes around rapidly on a board in Riverside County. A Southern California Legless Lizard crawls then quickly burrows into loose soil in Riverside County. Accustomed to living on soft sand it can burrow into, it has difficulty moving on the hard surface. A Bakersfield Legless Lizard crawls and burrows into loose soil in … When a legless, slithering reptile isn't a snake: California Legless Lizard Feb. 1, 2008 2007 William Flaxington (CalPhotos) The California legless lizard looks more like a worm or a small snake, yet it’s a burrowing (fossorial) lizard with very unique adaptations. Since the tail is stiffer than the body, a snake feels more supple than a glass lizard. The following is a list of Reptiles of concern. The Baja California Legless Lizard is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Interesting Legless lizard Facts: Size of legless lizard depends on the species. Anniella pulchra (Gray, 1852) Range of Anniella pulchra in purple Anniella pulchra, the California legless lizard, is a limbless, burrowing lizard often mistaken for a snake. Baja California legless lizard (Anniella geronimensis) is a lizard that looks like a snake. Using the total at the bottom of this page as an official count of endangered reptiles of the world is not recommended.For more information on what species are … A legless lizard's comparatively limited range … For the purpose of this webpage, northern California represents counties north of the 38º parallel, or north of the cities of San Francisco, Stockton and Sonora. Listed as critically endangered, the turtle population is threatened by loss of habitat, pollution and entrapment in sea life harvesting nets. There are some disturbing new studies and research in various regions around the world, revealing the dangers facing species of Horned lizards, as well as Legless lizards. The deceptively snake-like California legless lizard is aptly named—it truly is a lizard with no legs! Northern California hosts a diverse array of amphibians and reptiles. Description. Northern California hosts a diverse array of amphibians and reptiles. Tail of legless lizard … Resource library: Evo in the news: . Last month, biologists announced the discovery of four new species of lizard, not in an exotic tropical jungle, but right under our noses. Black Legless lizards burrow into Monterey County sand dunes. The legless lizards of LAX October 2013. A recent study by the Australian National University (ANU) claims that the Striped Legless Lizards are in … It is classified as endangered. The Bakersfield legless lizard (Anniella grinnelli), which today ranges from downtown Bakersfield in the southern San Joaquin Valley to the Carrizo Plain … Four new species of legless lizards have been found in Southern California. This list combines species from several endangered species lists. Two significant characteristics distinguish the California legless lizard from a snake: 1) it has moveable eyelids (snakes do not have eyelids at all); and 2) the California legless lizard can purposely detach the end of its tail to trick predators, a skill your average snake does not possess. A Southern California Legless Lizard writhes around rapidly on a board in Riverside County. Anniella pulchra, Los Osos, CA. For the purpose of this webpage, northern California represents counties north of the 38º parallel, or north of the cities of San Francisco, Stockton and Sonora. These lizards are around 7 inches (18 cm) long from snout to vent (not including tail).