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IM NO SNAKE IM A LIZARD
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Gareth Lusty (theLizardMan)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 33 W: 0 N: 93]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif) (421) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-12-29 |
| Categories: Reptiles |
| Exposure: f/3.2, 1/15 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-01-01 6:15 |
| Viewed: 6188 |
| Points: 2 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This is not a snake and was taken at Auckland zoo in New Zealand. WE live in a sneak free country and dont have live snakes at all.
This is a legless lizard (OPHISAURUS APODUS )
Ophisaurus apodus (or Pseudopus apodus), the European legless lizard or Scheltopusik, occurs in southern Europe, the Balkans, the southern Crimean coast, the Black Sea coast, and central Asia. Its preferred habitat is open wooded areas or rounded hills with short grass.ITS longevity in captivity has been recorded at 50+ years), large size (it can reach over 3 feet in length), and reasonable intelligence by lizard standards (it learns to recognize its keeper). Indeed, the specimen is the only one in New Zealand
While Ophisaurus may look like a snake, it is actually a member of Anguidae, a clade of lizards distributed throughout the Americas and Eurasia in which limb loss has occurred several times. Ophisaurus apodus retains a remnant, or 'stump', of the hind limb. All anguids have osteodermal armor, and many exhibit a longitudinal ventrolateral fold in the skin on each side that separates the dorsal and ventral armor. The fold permits expansion for breathing and feeding. |
Janice has marked this note useful
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- Janice
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(18832) - [2007-01-01 14:33]
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Hello Gareth, happy NY to you...
I can't say I've seen a legless lizard and if I did I'm sure I'd run for miles thinkg it was a snake!!
Good shot considering the conditions you filmed under at the zoo. It's not easy throough the glass. Thank you for sharing
Janice
