|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
glass snake
glass snake common name for the snakelike legless lizards of the genus Ophisaurus found in the S and central United States and in Eurasia. The shiny, scaled body is gray or greenish brown, sometimes striped above and whitish below. The American species, Ophisaurus ventralis, is 2 to 3 ft (60–90 cm) long; two thirds of the length is tail. The tail of a glass snake breaks easily from the body, either whole or in pieces, if struck; the lizard regenerates a new, usually shorter, tail without a real backbone. Like other lizards, and unlike snakes, the glass snake has eyelids and ear openings. Its tongue is broad. It feeds mostly on insects, worms, and slugs. A burrower, it lives in fields and meadows and seldom appears above ground in daylight. Glass snakes are classifed in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Reptilia, order Squamata, family Anguidae. |
|
|
Cite this article
"glass snake." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "glass snake." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-glasssna.html "glass snake." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-glasssna.html |
|
Anguidae
Anguidae (lateral fold lizards, slow-worms, glass snakes; class Squamata, suborder Sauria) A family of reptiles whose members vary from four-legged lizards to legless snake-like forms (e.g. Anguis fragilis, the slow-worm or blindworm, and Ophisaurus apodus, the European glass lizard or glass snake). All have a forked tongue (unlike skinks of similar form), mobile eyelids, and tail autotomy. Some (e.g. A. fragilis) are ovoviviparous, others (e.g. O. apodus) egg-layers. There are about 40 species, found in America, Europe, Asia, and N. Africa.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "Anguidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Anguidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Anguidae.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Anguidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Anguidae.html |
|
glass snake
glass snake (glass lizard) Legless lizard found in North America, Eurasia, and Africa. The cylindrical body has a groove along each side and is mostly brown or green. Length: 60–120cm (24–48in). Family Anguidae; genus Ophisaurus.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"glass snake." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "glass snake." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-glasssnake.html "glass snake." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-glasssnake.html |
|
glass snake
glass snake (Ophisaurus apodus) See ANGUIDAE.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "glass snake." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "glass snake." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-glasssnake.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "glass snake." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-glasssnake.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
