New addition: Sheltopusik

[Mistwalker]

Just got my new sheltopusik in the mail. Also called a european legless lizard. She's absolutely beautiful. So, some pics:

She's taking over a wet/dry setup that used to house other creatures. Here she is at the dried out wet end of the tank:

And some handling pics. Seems a bit skittish thusfar, but makes no attempts to bite:

 

[Mistwalker]

And one big image, showing off the gorgeous eyes:

 

[Gigas]

Pretty cool looking lizard thing

 

[kenspidey]

ok is this a lizard or a snake? either way its pretty cool its just freaking me out im guessing its a snake because well it has no legs.

 

[Crotalus]

ok is this a lizard or a snake? either way its pretty cool its just freaking me out im guessing its a snake because well it has no legs.

Also called a european legless lizard.

Read again

Cool lizard! We have a species in Sweden of legless lizard but they dont grow so big

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Man, that's an awsome dude, dude! Now, could you stop taking pictures and send it over here please?

On the other hand... if you really really don't wanna send it over here, could you take more pictures (lots) and kinda describe it's do-abouts a little and how it is being picked up and while being handled and everything else interesting?

I've wanted one of those for quite some time and might never have the chance to get one...

 

[Mistwalker]

I found it for sale on the kingsnake forums. They're great critters. This species can get to be about three feet long or so. This one's about two feet long at the moment, so she's got some growing to do.

This one doesn't seem to mind being handled too much. She doesn't bite at all, but is a bit skittish yet.

I would say make sure you don't grab the tail, as they can drop their tails like many other lizards can. This is why they get the name "glass snake". I hold mine quite loosely, just letting it rest on my hands. They rarely stop moving when handled.

They can live a LONG time, up to 50 years, and get quite used to their owner (or so I've read.)

They have eyelids, unlike snakes, and ears. Their jaws don't unhinge like a snake's, and their scales are of uniform size all over their bodies. They're also pretty heavily armored, so they have a fairly rigid body shape. They have a groove that runs down the length of their body that is a fold line, to let them breathe. It stops at the end of the body, where the tail starts.

They also have, like pythons and boas, leg remnants next to their cloacas.

That's all that comes to mind at the moment.

 

[Mistwalker]

Oh, and I bought this legless lizard from switzer reptiles, who were quite helpful and did a fantastic job of packing and shipping the critter.

They may still have some left, I don't really know. Their website is: http://switzerreptiles.com/index.html

 

[kenspidey]

I did read what was written i was just confused just because something is called a legless lizard doesnt mean it actually is a lizard im sure there are many animals that are improperly named but thank you now i understand its a lizard. It just looks so much like a snake because snakes are pretty much lizards without legs anyway in my view i guess thats where i was getting confused.

 

[Mistwalker]

Snakes have no eyelids, no ears, varying sized scales, they have unhingable jaws, and more sophisticated methods of movement. Snakes are far more specialized than legless lizards.

Thought I'd share another pic:

 

[Crotalus]

Heres one from the wild in Greece (a friend took the shot)

 

[padkison]

Here's an Eastern Glass Lizard I found on the beach in SC in fall of 2005. He's grown some since then. Easy to keep but a bit shy. I keep him in a 40g breeder with 2 fence lizards. Loves roaches.

 

[Stylopidae]

How much do they usually cost? I've always wanted one but thought they weren't readily availible.

 

[Mistwalker]

This one was $45, plus $38 for shipping. If you search around, you can sometimes find them. I found the ad for this one at the kingsnake.com classified forums.

 

[maxident213]

That's a beautiful animal, and I enjoyed reading about it. Great pics too.