Legless lizard may refer to any of several groups of
lizards which have independently lost limbs or reduced them to the point of being of no use in locomotion. It is the common name for the family
Pygopodidae, but often refers to other groups, such as limbless
anguids, depending upon the region of the world. These lizards are often distinguishable from
snakes on the basis of one or more of the following characteristics: possessing eyelids, possessing external ear openings, lack of broad belly scales, notched rather than forked tongue, and/or a very long tail (while snakes have a long body and short tail).