The common scaly-foot (''Pygopus lepidopodus'') is a widespread species of

legless lizard Legless lizard may refer to any of several groups of lizards that have independently lost limbs or reduced them to the point of being of no use in locomotion.Pough ''et al.'' 1992. Herpetology: Third Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall:Pearson Education ...

in the

Pygopodidae Pygopodidae, commonly known as legless lizards, snake-lizards, or flap-footed lizards, is a family of squamates with reduced or absent limbs, and are a type of gecko. At least 35 species are placed in two subfamilies and eight genera. They have u ...

family. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to Australia.

Habit

Mostly active at dusk or dawn (

crepuscular In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal, vespertine, or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, where an animal is active during the hours of dayli ...

), it can be

nocturnal Nocturnality is an ethology, animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have ...

after high daytime temperatures. It lives in long grasses, heaths, and woodlands, and is most often seen on warm mornings, foraging for food. When threatened, the scaly-foot flashes its thick, fleshy tongue, in an apparent mimicry of snakes. Usually two eggs are laid per clutch.

Diet

Its diet includes a variety of invertebrates such as burrowing spiders. The scaly-foot reportedly also eating other lizards in captivity, and vegetable matter, with a preference for bananas.

Distribution

It is found mostly in the southern and eastern parts of Australia, though isolated populations occur in semiarid southern

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

and tropical wet Queensland.

Description

The scaly-foot is snake-like in appearance, up to 80 cm in length with a noticeable "keel" or ridge on the top. Variable in colours and pattern, it occasionally is grey with black spots or sometimes coppery brown with a grey tail. Other patterns and variations occur. Prominent limb flaps may be seen on close inspection, hence the name "scaly-foot".

Captivity

Considered an easy to keep species, a license is required to keep the common scaly-foot as a pet in Australia. Pygopus lepidopodus long Kur-ring-gai Chase

Pygopus lepidopodus long Kur-ring-gai Chase

References

External links

museumsvictoria.com.auBooks.google.com.au
Pygopodids of Australia Pygopus Legless lizards Endemic fauna of Australia Reptiles described in 1804 {{Gecko-stub