Species:

Lialis burtonis

Burton's Snake-lizard

Some other names for this species:

Burton's Legless Lizard

November 10, 2005
Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia, Australia
Burton
Burton
This species is Australia's most widespread reptile, and is considered common. Still, this is one of the species I most wanted to see on this trip. Lialis lizards are more snake-like than any of the numerous other groups of legless lizards. For instance, they have the snake-like ability to unhinge their jaws in order to swallow very large lizards whole. They are also reach the largest size of any pygopodids.

This particular lizard has clearly eaten something large recently, as shown by the huge bulge in the first picture.

Here is a complete list of the reptiles and frogs I saw on this trip to Western Australia.