Burton's Legless Lizard

The Burton's Legless Lizard (Lialis burtonis) is one of those species that quietly proves how interesting Australian reptile diversity really is. It looks like a snake, hunts like a viper, and is built for a job no other animal in the Sydney region does. They are common across Greater Sydney but rarely seen, and almost always misidentified when they are. Knowing what one looks like — and being able to tell the difference between a Burton's and a snake — is one of the most useful pieces of reptile knowledge a Sydney homeowner can have.