Examine individual changes

'{{Taxobox | name = Glass lizard | image = Eastern_Glass_lizard.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = [[Eastern glass lizard]] (''Ophisaurus ventralis'') | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]] | ordo = [[Squamata]] | subordo = [[Lacertilia]] | familia = [[Anguidae]] | subfamilia = [[Anguinae]] | genus = '''''Ophisaurus''''' | genus_authority = [[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]], 1803<ref>{{ITIS |id=174105 |taxon=''Ophisaurus''}}</ref> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = 16, See text. }} The '''glass lizards''' or '''glass snakes''', are a [[genus]], '''''Ophisaurus''''' (from the Greek 'snake-lizard'), of reptiles that resemble [[snake]]s, but are actually [[lizard]]s. Although most species have no legs, their head shapes, movable [[eyelid]]s, and external [[ear]] openings identify them as lizards. A few species have very small, stub-like legs near their rear vents. These are [[vestigial organ]]s, meaning they have evolved and are no longer in use. These animals are also known as '''jointed snakes'''. They reach lengths of up to {{convert|4|ft|abbr=on}}, but about two-thirds of this is the tail. Glass lizards feed on insects, spiders, other small reptiles, and young rodents. Their diets are limited by their inability to unhinge their jaws. Some glass lizards give birth to [[viviparous|live young]] but most lay [[egg (biology)|egg]]s. Their common name is because they are easily broken; like many lizards, they have the ability to deter [[predation]] by [[autotomy|dropping off part of the tail]] which can break into several pieces, like glass. The tail remains mobile, distracting the predator, while the lizard becomes motionless, allowing eventual escape. This serious loss of body mass requires a considerable effort to replace, and can take up to years to do so. Despite this ability, the new tail is usually smaller in size than the original. The greatest number of species in the genus are native to [[Asia]], from [[India]] to [[China]] and the [[Indonesia]]n islands. At least one species, the [[Moroccan Glass Lizard]], comes from [[North Africa]], and several species live in the Southeastern [[United States]] including the barrier islands off the [[Atlantic (ocean)|Atlantic]] Coast of [[Florida]]. They are also found in abundant numbers in eastern North Carolina as far as 40 miles from Atlantic Ocean. ==Feeding== Their diets consist primarily of arthropods, with larger animals eating snails and small mammals. ==Classification== '''Genus ''Ophisaurus''''' *''[[Ophisaurus apodus]]'' scheltopusik *''[[Ophisaurus attenuatus]]'' slender glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus buettikoferi]]'' Borneo glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus ceroni]]'' Ceron's glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus compressus]]'' island glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus formosensis]]'' Formosan glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus gracilis]]'' Burmese glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus hainanensis]]'' *''[[Ophisaurus harti]]'' Chinese glass lizard or mud dragon <!-- BiodiversConserv17:2037. --> *''[[Ophisaurus incomptus]]'' <!-- article lists as ''Hylosaurus''*''[[Ophisaurus koellikeri]]'' Moroccan glass lizard--> *''[[Ophisaurus mimicus]]'' mimic glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus sokolovi]]'' pink lizard *''[[Ophisaurus ventralis]]'' eastern glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus wegneri]]'' Sumatra glass lizard *''[[Ophisaurus sagget]]'' Sagget lizard ==See also== *[[Pygopodidae]] *[[Slowworm]] *[[Limbless vertebrates]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2012/04/lizards-of-glass.html ''Ophisaurus'' at Life is Short, but Snakes are Long] {{wikispecies|Ophisaurus}} {{commons category|Ophisaurus}} [[Category:Anguids]]'