Florida Worm Lizard

Range

Ranges throughout north central Florida, with a small extension of range into south central Georgia.

Habitats

This species spends most of its life burrowing underground in soil, sand, or leaf detritus, only emerging after heavy rain. Often found in pine or broadleaf hammocks.

Identification

This extremely unique species looks much more like an earthworm than a lizard. It grows to 7-12 inches in length and is the same width all over, with a blunt head and tail. It has no legs, and its eyes are so underdeveloped that they can't be seen externally. It has ring-shaped scales down the length of its body, almost identical to the segments of a worm. It does have a few lizard-like plated scales on the top of its head, and its upper mandible juts forward beyond the lower mandible. It is uniformly pale pink in color.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians