The Glass Lizard, aka Glass Snake, Makes Its Tail Shatter

Unlike snakes, glass lizards (which are also legless) can break off and regrow their tails. Jay Ondreicka / Shutterstock

Today, we’re diving into the world of the glass snake, more commonly known as a glass lizard. They aren’t actually snakes at all; they’re several species of legless lizard. That's right, glass lizards look an awful lot like snakes, but they have some key differences that set them apart.

One of the most famous features of glass lizards is their ability to break off part of their tail as a defense mechanism, which is where they get their "glass" name. Once the tail breaks, its structure is then able to regenerate over time and become good as new. This is a trait shared with many legged lizard species, but won't be found in any "true" snake.

Unlike snakes, they have external ear openings, movable eyelids and inflexible jaws. Snakes generally use their quick-striking fangs and flexible jaws to take down and swallow larger prey items, but glass snakes have to chow down on smaller and easier-to-catch critters.

Glass Lizard Habitat

Glass lizards can be found all over the globe, throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and northern Africa, most often sharing territory with other lizards and small reptiles. These species tend to favor loose soil and plant matter which they can slither into and avoid potential predators.

Unlike venomous snakes, glass lizards are not natural fighters and lack the belly muscles that allow true snakes to chase down larger prey. When faced with danger, the glass lizard is most likely to employ its tail-breaking mechanism and attempt to escape.

Notable Glass Lizard Species

There are two common species of glass lizards you may encounter in North America.

Eastern Glass Lizard

The eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) is one of the most abundant species of glass lizards, commonly found in the southeastern United States. This variety can be identified by a long, lateral groove that runs from its head to tail.

These lizards can reach lengths up to 3 feet (0.9 meters), and about two-thirds of that length is made up of their long, fragile tail.

In their habitat, eastern glass lizards can most often be found in sandy soils and grassy areas across the coastal plain, where they prey on insects, young rodents, frogs and other lizards.

Slender Glass Lizard

Next up are slender glass lizards (Ophisaurus attenuatus). This species is a real standout when it comes to legless reptiles and gets its name from its particularly long and thin body, making it one of the most snake-like glass lizards around.

This lizard is distributed all over southeastern and central North America, with territories that stretch from the coastal plain into east Texas to as far north as Illinois. It’s often found burrowing in open fields, pine flatwoods and grasslands, where it hunts small snakes, insects and other invertebrates like snails.

While it shares many characteristics with other glass lizards — such as its breakable tail and external ear openings — the slender glass lizard also has dark stripes running along its body.

All 7 Glass Lizard Species

These are all the glass lizards you can find in different places worldwide.

Asian glass lizard (Ophisaurus gracilis)
Eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)
European glass lizard (Pseudopus apodus), sometimes placed in the genus Ophisaurus
Indian glass snake (Ophisaurus apodus), closely related to Pseudopus apodus
Island glass lizard (Ophisaurus compressus)
Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Ophisaurus mojavensis)
Slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus)

2 Slender Glass Lizard Subspecies

Eastern slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus), sometimes called a Florida worm lizard
Western slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus)

Glass Lizard Reproduction

Glass lizard mating season takes place in late spring to early summer. After mating, a female glass lizard will typically lay between seven to 15 eggs in a hiding spot underneath some dead wood, long grass or leaves, although she may abandon them if the nest becomes uncovered.

The eggs gestate quickly and will hatch about two months after laying.

Are Glass Lizards Dangerous?

Glass lizards are entirely nonvenomous and unlikely to bite humans unless thoroughly provoked. Even if you do manage to get bitten by a glass lizard, their relatively weak jaw and lack of fangs will make the attack unlikely to pierce skin (unlike snakes, which may still pierce the skin with nonvenomous bites).

If handling a glass lizard, you'll want to grasp it along the upper neck. Grabbing the lizard by its tail will probably cause the body part to snap off in self-defense, and this could potentially make the reptile more vulnerable to predators while its tail regenerates.

Since glass lizards tend to prey on small pest species like rodents and insects, they can also be beneficial to keep around your house's yard or garden. They may look creepy-crawly, but a glass lizard is no threat to your well-being.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.