Lialis burtonis
SUBFAMILY
Pygopodinae
TAXONOMY
Lialis burtonis Gray, 1834, Round Hill Fauna Reserve, New South Wales, Australia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Burton's legless lizard; French: Lialis de Burton; German: Spitzkopf-Flossenfuß.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The species reaches 10 in (250 mm) in snout-vent length. It is elongate, with no forelimbs and with hind limbs reduced to small flaps. The tail is longer than the body. The head is long, with a very elongate snout, and the pupils are vertical. It is brown or gray, with or without a pattern of regular spots or stripes.
DISTRIBUTION
The species ranges across Australia and southeastern New Guinea.
HABITAT
The geckos live in terrestrial habitats, from deserts to humid forest.
BEHAVIOR
They are active day or night.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
The species feeds on lizards, chiefly small skinks.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Mating occurs in the spring, and females lay two elongate, leathery-shelled eggs in summer.
CONSERVATION STATUS
The species is widespread and common throughout most of its range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
