Slender Glass Lizard

Scientific Name: Ophisaurus attenuatus

Photo Credit: Todd Pierson

Adult slender glass lizards (Ophisaurus attenuatus) typically measure between 22 and 42 inches, though much of that length comes from their long tails. They tend to be slimmer than eastern glass lizards and show narrow, dark stripes running below the lateral groove, along the center of the back, and beneath the tail. Their base color varies from brown to yellowish, often overlaid with irregular crossbands; juveniles display bold striping, while adults may become more flecked with age.

These lizards hunt during the day, consuming insects, spiders, snails, small lizards, and even small snakes. Lacking the ability to unhinge their jaws, glass lizards avoid eating anything wider than their heads.

In North Carolina, slender glass lizards are most often found across the Coastal Plain and southern Piedmont, preferring open, dry, sandy areas such as old fields and lightly wooded sites. They spend much of their time under logs, vegetation, or other debris and are active both under cover and out in the open on warm days.

Little is definitively known about their reproduction in this region, but egg-laying occurs in sandy spots during summer. Clutches typically contain five to nine eggs.

Like other glass lizards, they can detach part of their tail when threatened; the tail wriggles to distract predators while the lizard escapes, though adults rarely retain a full-length tail.

Overall, the slender glass lizard is a secretive yet fascinating member of North Carolina’s reptile fauna, adapted for life in open, sandy, and dry habitats, with a unique series of behaviors for feeding and predator avoidance.

Explore the full species profile, including their habitat, diet, and behavior on Herps of NC.