European glass lizard
Pseudopus apodus
A large legless lizard of eastern Georgia. Often mistaken for a snake, but harmless and non-venomous.
Overview
What is European glass lizard
The European glass lizard (Pseudopus apodus) is a large legless lizard — not a snake. It has no legs, so people often fear it, but it has no venom and poses no real danger to people. In Georgia it occurs in the east: Kakheti, Kartli, Mtskheta–Mtianeti, and around Tbilisi. It is not confirmed in the west on the checklist we follow. Adults are roughly a metre long, sometimes a little more.
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Identification
How to identify European glass lizard
Not a snake. Identify it by eyelids, ear openings, and a side fold.
It has eyelids — snakes do not.
Ear openings show on the side of the head.
A deep skin fold runs along the side of the body.
A tiny limb stub may show near the base of the tail.
The body is stout; colour is often brownish or yellowish, with a paler belly.
Length is roughly 1–1.35 m.
Quiz
Next: which lizard is it?
European glass lizard is in the Georgia lizard quiz. Ten field photos, four names — eye practice, not field ID.
Biology
Habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation
Habitat and range
It likes open places: fields, open woodland, scrub, rocky slopes, and river valleys. It often turns up in gardens or near village yards. The map shows Kakheti, Kvemo and Shida Kartli, Mtskheta–Mtianeti, and Tbilisi. Western Georgia is not on the map — we do not have confirmed atlas records there.
Diet
It mostly eats snails and slugs. It also takes insects. Sometimes a small lizard or other small prey. Strong jaws crack snail shells easily. It shows up more often in wet weather.
Behavior
It is active by day. Tell it from a snake by eyelids, ear openings, and a deep fold along the side. A tiny limb stub may show near the base of the tail. If scared it may hiss or bite — defence, not venom. The tail can break off, though that is uncommon in this species. It lays eggs. Do not handle wild animals.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about European glass lizard.
A lizard. Unlike a snake, it has eyelids, ear openings, and a fold along the side.
No. It has no venom. If scared it may bite — just leave it alone. It is useful: it eats pest insects and slugs.
In the east — Kakheti, Kartli, Mtskheta–Mtianeti, and around Tbilisi. We do not have confirmed western atlas records.
About one metre, sometimes up to 1.35 m.
The tail can break and fall into pieces — people once thought it shattered like glass. The tail regrows slowly and often stays shorter.
It lays eggs.
The slow worm is smaller and smoother. The glass lizard is large, has a clear side fold, and often a yellow belly. Both are harmless; neither is a snake.
Watch and leave it where it is. Do not catch or kill it — it is not a snake. If you think it might be a venomous snake and you are unsure, keep distance and call 112 if needed.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Nikolskii 1913 — Georgian records cited in Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026
- Muskhelishvili 1970 — Georgian records cited in Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026
- Bannikov et al. 1977 — Georgian records cited in Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026
- IUCN Red List
- The Reptile Database
- Georgian Government Resolution No. 190 of 2014 — Red List of Georgia
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Related guides
Continue with related pages
Lizards in Georgia
Glass lizard, Darevskia, and Caucasian agama — catalog through to full profiles.
LizardsCatalogLizard species
Every lizard in the index — Darevskia in its own block. An empty cell is a missing source.
IndexQuizWhich lizard is it?
A photo, four names, instant feedback — Georgia’s lizard catalog. This is not the field guide.
Start the quizIDWhat lizard is this?
Photo, size, colour, range. For Darevskia, colour is not enough.
ID guide
