Legless Lizard of Monterey Bay


Legless lizard examined near Martin Dunes


The dune habitat along the Monterey Bay is home to many unique species.  One of the most mysterious is the black legless lizard.  This creature is found only along the Monterey Bay dune habitat and nowhere else on earth.  I was thrilled to finally see one on a recent walk along the Salinas River Wildlife Refuge (part of our Walk the Bay route).

Why isn’t the black legless lizard just a snake?  These lizards are distinguishable from snakes because they have moveable eyelids (snakes do not have eyelids at all); and 2) they can detach the end of their tail.

If you’d like to try to see a black legless lizard on your next walk around the Monterey Bay you may learn a few tricks by reading a very interesting article written by a student studying the black legless lizard.


About Author

Margaret Leonard
Adventure Guide in Santa Cruz, California