Papua snake lizard

The Papua snake lizard (Lialis jicari), also known commonly as Jicar's snake-lizard, the New Guinea snake-lizard, and the Papua snake-lizard, is a species of legless lizard in the family Pygopodidae.^[1][2] The species is endemic to New Guinea including the Bismarck Archipelago.^[1]

Papua snake lizard
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Pygopodidae
Genus:	Lialis
Species:	L. jicari
Binomial name
Lialis jicari Boulenger, 1903
Synonyms
Alopecosaurus cuneirostris Lindholm, 1905 Alopecosaurus cuneirostris var. inornata Lindholm, 1905

Etymology

The specific name, jicari, is in honor of Mr. A.H. Jiear, a Resident Magistrate in British New Guinea, who presented the holotype to the British Museum (Natural History). Boulenger misread the donor's surname as "Jicar".^[3]

Habitat

L. jicari is found in a variety of habitats including freshwater wetlands, grassland, shrubland, savanna, and forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft).^[1]

Description

L. jicari is limbless. It may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 31 cm (12 in), with a tail length of 50 cm (20 in). It has 22 scales around the middle of the body, seven preanal pores, and six anal scales.^[4]

Reproduction

L. jicari is oviparous.^[2]