Sheltopusik

The common name "sheltopusik" comes from Russian: желтопузик (zheltopuzik/želtopuzik), which translates most directly as "yellow-bellied".

The sheltopusik can grow up to 135 cm (4.43 ft) in length. It has a brown color that is paler on the ventral surface and the head. It has a segmented, ring-like appearance that resembles a big earthworm, and it has lateral grooves, which are distinguishing folds of skin down either side. Occasionally, tiny (2-mm) back legs can be seen close to the cloaca. The ears, eyelids, and ventral scales of the sheltopusik readily identify it as a snake, even if the legs are hardly noticeable.

They are members of the ancient lizard lineage known as the Anguidae family. Alligator lizards and slowworm lizards are closely related to European glass lizards. In essence, they are a large, heavily armored relative of the little lizards that become tailless in backyards across Europe or America.

The European glass lizard might think that breaking through the shells of snails is an especially easy task due to their teeth and jaw structure. The sheltopusik, because of its size, usually reacts to provocation by biting, musking, and hissing. Comparatively speaking to certain other species that exhibit caudal autotomy, it is less likely to lose its tail. But it is because of these sporadic instances of caudal autotomy that the term "glass lizard" (or "glass snake") originated. The idea that the lizard can shatter like glass and then reconstruct itself stems from the possibility that its unleashed tail will break into pieces. In actuality, a missing tail regrows gradually but takes on a shorter, darker appearance. After a long while, the new tail could grow back to its full length.

This species is found in dry, well vegetated rocky slopes, marquis, traditionally cultivated areas, and close to human settlements. In Iran, it has been collected in open grassy areas. It occurs in foothill plains and valleys of river, inhabited sparse deciduous forests, tugay-bushes, shrubs, hollows, woodland edges and foothills. Animals may be found hiding under bushes, among stones or in rodent burrows. It is common in gardens, vineyards and is sometimes found in agricultural land.

Reproduction

The female lays between six and ten eggs in a clutch between mid-June and the beginning of July. It reaches sexual maturity in four years; in Crimea 4-13 eggs are laid in a clutch, with animals reaching maturity in 3-4 years.

• Type: Oviparous (egg-laying).

• Breeding season: Spring.

• Clutch size: 6–12 eggs.

• Incubation: About 45–60 days.

• Females sometimes guard the eggs, which is relatively rare among reptiles.

• Juveniles are more strongly patterned than adults.

For the most part, the European glass lizard was peaceful and non-aggressive. Like most lizards, this one defends itself by hissing, hardening its body, and dropping its tail. It would rather flee than face an opponent. This lizard's primary activity was diurnal, meaning active throughout the day. Despite their quiet and seemingly innocuous nature, sheltopusiks can tolerate humans in captivity and rarely bite unless treated roughly. Because they consume pests, this species was frequently misidentified as snakes and murdered needlessly, despite being useful creatures in gardens and farms.

Although sheltopusiks are not deeply ingrained in world mythology, they can be found in regional folklore in eastern Europe and western Asia because they are sometimes perceived as "half-snake creatures." Because they were "created" by "Gods," these lizards were sometimes mistaken for poisonous animals in local superstition and were associated with harmless domestic wildlife.

Threats

• Habitat destruction.

• Road mortality.

• Killing due to confusion with snakes.

• Illegal pet trade in some regions.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation Efforts

• Habitat protection.

• Anti-poaching enforcement.

• Rescue and rehabilitation centers.

• Awareness campaigns against illegal pet trade.

The sheltopusik inhabits open country, such as short grassland or sparsely wooded hills in Eurasia.

This widespread species ranges eastwards from the Balkan region of Europe to Turkey, the Caucasus region, Central Asia and the Levant. From the Balkans it has been recorded along the Adriatic regions of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania (where it is common only in coastal areas), southern Macedonia (through the Vardar valley to the vicinity of Skopje), most of Greece (including the Ionian Islands and the islands of Limnos, Rhodes, Lesbos, Chios, Ikaria and Samos) and southern and eastern Bulgaria. It also occurs in southern Ukraine, southwestern Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Turkey (in the west, north and south), western Syria, throughout Lebanon, northern Israel, northwest Jordan, Iraq, Iran (restricted to the Caspian region, northern Zagros, the Alborz and Kopet Dagh), and into Central Asia where it is present in southern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, southern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, western Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Decreasing

• Population: 

  • Earth: ???

  • Berbania: ???

  • Reinachos: ???

  • Sawintir: ???

• Locomotion: Amphibious

• Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Radiated Citadel; Volcano; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): Afghanistan; Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Georgia; Greece; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Russia; Syria; Tajikistan; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan

• Berbania: ???

• Reinachos: ???

• Sawintir: ???

A "cult favorite" among reptile enthusiasts is the sheltopusik. In captivity, they have a very long lifespan—up to 50 years. Compared to other lizards, they have "dog-like" dispositions, are resilient, and are simple to feed. Because of their size, they need a large enclosure that is at least six feet long. Additionally, they are frequent "shifters" who reorganize home décor.

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• Sarra

• Belarusian: Жаўтапузік

• Deutsch: Scheltopusik

• Nederlands: Scheltopusik, Pantserhazelworm, Europese glasslang

• English: Sheltopusik, Pallas's glass lizard, European legless lizard, European glass lizard

• Spanish: Lagarto de cristal de Pallas, lagarto sin patas europeo

• French: Orvet des Balkans, Orvet géant des Balkans

• Nihongo: バルカンヘビガタトカゲ

• Russian: Желтопузик, глухарь, Панцирные веретеницы

• Tagalog: Europeong walang-hitang butiki, syeltopusik

• Türkçe: Oluklu kertenkele

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheltopusik

• https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41669

• https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Pseudopus_apodus

• https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/4P98Q

• https://eunis.eea.europa.eu/species/750

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/157263/745759

• https://www.zootierliste.de/en/?klasse=3&ordnung=303&familie=30342&art=3041303

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Sheltopusik-European-Legless-Lizard-978747741