Pseudopus

One of the most curious and captivating groups of reptiles because it blurs the line between lizards and snakes. Today, it is represented by a single living species, the Sheltopusik (Pseudopus apodus). Still, in the past, fossil evidence shows that the genus once had a greater diversity across Europe and Asia. Pseudopus is remarkable because its members look strikingly like snakes, but they are actually legless lizards. This means they share more in common with alligator lizards and slowworms than with true snakes.

At first glance, Pseudopus species appear long, smooth, and serpentine, often reaching over a meter in length. But on closer inspection, their lizard heritage reveals itself: they have movable eyelids (snakes cannot blink), external ear openings, and in some fossil species, tiny vestiges of hind limbs. Their body proportions also differ from snakes—Pseudopus lizards tend to have a proportionally longer tail, which can detach in segments as a defense mechanism, wriggling to distract predators. This trait gave rise to the enduring myth of “glass lizards” that shatter into pieces when caught, only to reassemble later.

Modern-day Pseudopus apodus (the Sheltopusik) is a survivor of this ancient lineage, ranging from the Balkans and the Caucasus to Central Asia. It thrives in dry, open habitats such as grasslands, rocky hillsides, and farmland edges. Like other anguids, it is a terrestrial hunter, feeding largely on invertebrates, especially snails, which it crushes with strong jaws. Fossil species of Pseudopus, however, show that the genus was once much more widespread, inhabiting much of Europe during the Miocene epoch—suggesting that these legless lizards were once important players in ecosystems long before snakes became dominant.