Photos by Chris Brown

Scientific name: Anniella pulchra

Common name: California Legless Lizard

Size: 3.15-5.5 in (8.0-14.0 cm)

Distinguishing characters: Legless; silver or beige on dorsal side; greenish yellow venter; smooth shiny scales; black mid-dorsal line running length of body; additional lines where ventral and dorsal colors meet; distinct glossy black tip on tail, if not regenerated.

Juveniles: Cream or silver on dorsal half; grey or pale yellow on ventral half, but very similar to adults.

Dimorphism: None

Similar species: Leptotyphlops humilis: lacks dorsal stripes and eyelids.

Additional notes: Only legless lizard in California. A burrowing species seldom seen unless uncovered. Prefers loose soils associated with drainages and valley bottoms, but also occurs on hillsides. It is found throughout the reserve but appears to be most common on the back dunes. Can be nocturnal during summer, but rarely on roads at night.

Return to Lizards