Burton's legless lizard

Burton's legless lizard (Lialis burtonis) is a species of lizard in the family Pygopodidae. The species lacks forelegs and has only rudimentary hind legs.[1] Pygopodid lizards are also referred to as "legless lizards",[2] "flap-footed lizards"[3] and "snake-lizards".[4] This species is endemic to Australia and Papua New Guinea.[5]

Burton's legless lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Pygopodidae
Genus: Lialis
Species:
L. burtonis
Binomial name
Lialis burtonis
Gray, 1835

Etymology

The specific name, burtonis, is in honour of British army surgeon Edward Burton (1790–1867).[6]

Taxonomy and description
Burton's legless lizard and its elongated snout and distinctive wedge-shaped head

Burton's legless lizard (Lialis burtonis) is a member of the genus Lialis within the family Pygopodidae.[3] There are approximately 40 species in the family Pygopodidae, however, Burton's legless lizard and another species (L. jicari) are the only species that fall within genus Lialis.[3] Members in genus Lialis are considered analogous to macrostomatan snakes as these taxonomic groups have functionally similar adaptations such as the ability to swallow relatively large prey whole.[3][7] Differences between legless lizards and snakes, however, are that legless lizards lack venom glands, cannot constrict prey, they have a fleshy tongue rather than a forked tongue, they have visible ear holes and they have remnant hind limbs.[3][7][8] Furthermore, Burton's legless lizard and the Pygopodidae, as a whole, are most closely related genetically and anatomically to geckos in the family Gekkonidae.[9][10][11] This is despite the convergence and superficial resemblance of this species with snakes.[10]

Burton's legless lizard has significant morphological adaptations to enable it to deal with large struggling prey items.[7] The first adaptation is a skull with an elongated snout that may, along with its pointed, recurved and hinged teeth, be an adaptation that assists it to grip its prey.[12] In addition, this elongated snout may also promote binocular vision which would allow strikes to be more accurately directed.[7] Another adaptation that assists Burton's legless lizard to hold its prey is its flexible mesokinetic and hypokinetic joints which allow its jaws to encircle prey.[7][12] Lastly, the ability of the species to retract its eyes is of key importance as it is a visual predator that relies on eyesight and this adaptation effectively protects them during conflict.[7]

Distribution and habitat

Burton's legless lizard occurs almost Australia wide but it is absent in parts of southern Australia including Tasmania.[5] This species is also found in Papua New Guinea, although populations are limited to one small area.[5]

Burton's legless lizard is found in a variety of habitats from deserts to the margins of rainforests but not in southern alpine areas and extreme northern deserts as would be expected based on its distribution.[5][8] It is usually found in low vegetation or debris on the ground such as leaf litter which has been shown to be important to specimens located in tropical environments.[3][5] This was demonstrated in an experiment where individuals were given a choice of several thermally comparable environments and there was an overwhelming preference for leaf litter by specimens from the tropics.[3] In areas where leaf litter is not as readily available this species will use grasses, abandoned burrows and other shelter that it can find as habitat.[8]

Burton's legless lizard on some sticks

Diet

L. burtonis feeds almost exclusively on lizards.[5][8][13] Generally, skinks are the main prey item taken but other legless lizards, geckos and dragons are also a part of the diet of Burton's legless lizard.[2][8][13] In addition, it has been reported that this species will eat small snakes on rare occasions and this has been documented in a study of the stomach contents of museum specimens.[14] Notably, this species also feeds rather infrequently according to a recent study.[3]

Reproduction
Burton's legless lizard on sand

Reproduction seems to be seasonal in populations of Burton's legless lizard and mating occurs at similar times throughout Australia.[3][8] Ovulation and mating for the species usually occurs from September until summer.[3][8] The species is oviparous and eggs are generally laid from November to January, although, reproduction can occur at any time outside of the usual breeding season and females are capable of laying more than one clutch each year.[3][14] Eggs are laid under logs or rocks, on the ground, under leaf litter and sometimes in the nests of sugar ants.[8]

Clutches can be laid in quick succession with each clutch containing 1 to 3 tough, leathery eggs, although a clutch size of 2 eggs is by far the most common.[14][15] Nesting can be communal and up to 20 eggs have been found in a nest.[8][14] Another characteristic that has been discovered is the ability of females of this species to either store sperm for reproduction at a later time or to reproduce through parthenogenesis which does not require mating to be successful.[3] Hatchlings are approximately 13 centimetres long.[8]

Behaviour
Burton's legless lizard cleaning its spectacle

Burton's legless lizard is generally a diurnal feeder as prey is most commonly encountered during the day but it can be active at any time.[3] This is highlighted as its movements tend to be nocturnal to take advantage of benefits such as reduced risks of hyperthermia during hot conditions and reduced risks of predation from diurnal predators like raptors.[3] Another reason for it to move at night is to avoid revealing its ambush position in the day when it has the highest likelihood of encountering an otherwise unsuspecting prey item.[3] In addition, there is geographic variation in movement and feeding patterns which is expected as this species is very widespread and inhabits a variety of different environments.[3]

This lizard is a visually oriented predator that strikes based on movement and requires shelter to ambush its prey.[3] Shelter is also required to hide from predators and may be particularly important after feeding as individuals become more sedentary than usual which is thought to be an anti-predator response.[16] Alternatively, shelter also plays a key role in lizard thermoregulation.[3] Deep leaf litter for example, is very good shelter as individuals can bury themselves at an appropriate depth to regulate temperature and remain hidden at the same time.[3]

Burton's legless lizard also uses caudal luring as a feeding strategy which is rare in lizards.[17] Notably, this behaviour only occurs if its initial ambush attack is unsuccessful in capturing its intended prey.[17] However, this tactic is not exhibited every time that prey escapes as the likelihood of this tactic being used increases with time since an individual's last meal.[17] Caudal luring can be used to recapture prey in 3 ways as it can be used to lure prey towards it, to distract prey at the moment that it strikes or both.[17]

Feeding strategies are a very important behaviour for this species as the lizards it eats can often be large enough to inflict a retaliatory bite that could cause serious harm.[7] This is thought to be the reason that this species will modify its strike precision according to prey size as strikes at large prey will be directed at either the head or neck to prevent them from biting back.[7] Furthermore, Burton's legless lizard will hold large prey until it is incapacitated before swallowing to prevent harm to itself whereas it swallows small prey that is still struggling as swallowing live prey costs less energy than waiting for it to be incapacitated.[7]

This species also has a tendency to vocalise, especially, when it is threatened.[4] Furthermore, if it is seized by a predator it can drop its tail like many other lizards.[3] However, there are substantial costs associated with a lizard losing its tail as it requires time and energy to grow back.[3]

Burton's legless lizard on a rocky surface

Conservation

L. burtonis is not a priority for conservation as it is Australia's most widespread reptile and inhabits almost all Australian habitat types with only a few exceptions.[3][5] In addition, it is not known how abundant Burton's legless lizard is, but there has been no indication that this species is rare or rapidly declining.[3][5] Consequently, while Burton's legless lizard has not been assessed for an IUCN conservation status yet, it is predicted with a fair degree of confidence that it would be given the status of "least concern".

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References
  1. Pygopod. (2013). In The free dictionary online. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Pygopod
  2. Bradshaw SD, Gans C, Girons HS (1980). "Behavioural thermoregulation in a pygopodid lizard, Lialis burtonis ". Copeia 1980 (4): 738-743. JSTOR 1444452
  3. Wall M, Shine R (2013). "Ecology and behaviour of Burton’s legless lizard (Lialis burtonis, Pygopodidae) in tropical Australia". Asian Herpetological Research 4 (1): 9-21. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1245.2013.00009
  4. Weber E, Werner YL (1977). "Vocalisations of two snake-lizards (Reptilia: Sauria: Pygopodidae)". Herpetologica 33(3): 353-363. JSTOR 3891953
  5. Cogger HG (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sixth Edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland.
  6. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lialis burtonis, p. 43).
  7. Wall M, Shine R (2007). "Dangerous food: Lacking venom and constriction, how do snake-like lizards (Lialis burtonis, Pygopodidae) subdue their lizard prey?" Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 91 (4): 719-727. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2007.00835.x
  8. Cronin L (2001). Key guide: Australian reptiles and amphibians. Annandale, New South Wales: Envirobook.
  9. Vidal N, Hedges SB (2005). "The phylogeny of squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians) inferred from nine nuclear protein-coding genes". Comptes Rendus Biologies 328 (10-11): 1000-1008. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2005.10.001
  10. Gorman GC, Gress F (1970). "Sex chromosomes of a pygopodid lizard, Lialis burtonis ". Experientia 26 (2): 206-207. doi:10.1007/BF01895586
  11. Wever EG (1974). "The ear of Lialis burtonis (Sauria: Pygopodidae), its structure and function". Copeia 1974 (2): 297-305. JSTOR 1442523
  12. Patchell FC, Shine R (1986b). "Feeding mechanisms in pygopodid lizards: How can Lialis swallow such large prey?" Journal of Herpetology 20 (1): 59-64. JSTOR 1564125
  13. Wall M, Shine R (2009). "The relationship between foraging ecology and lizard chemo-reception: Can a snake analogue (Burton’s legless lizard, Lialis burtonis) detect prey scent?" Ethology 115 (3): 264-272. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2008.01595.x
  14. Patchell FC, Shine R (1986a). "Food habits and reproductive biology of the Australian legless lizards (Pygopodidae)". Copeia 1986 (1): 30-39. JSTOR 1444884
  15. Neill WT (1957). "Notes on the pygopodid lizards, Lialis burtonis and L. jicari ". Copeia 1957 (3): 230-232. JSTOR 1439366
  16. Wall M, Shine R (2008). "Post-feeding thermophily in lizards (Lialis burtonis Gray, Pygopodidae): Laboratory studies can provide misleading results". Journal of Thermal Biology 33 (5): 274-279. doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2008.02.005
  17. Murray BA, Bradshaw SD, Edward DH (1991). "Feeding behaviour and the occurrence of caudal luring in Burton’s pygopodid Lialis burtonis (Sauria: Pygopodidae)". Copeia 1991 (2): 509-516. RJSTOR 1446599

Further reading
  • Gray JE (1835). "Characters of a New Genus of Reptiles (Lialis) from New South Wales". Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1834: 134-135. (Lialis burtonis, new species). (in Latin and English).

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