6 Types of Lizards Found in Russia (2025)
Do you want to learn about the different lizards in Russia?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! In the article below, I have listed the lizards you can expect to see. For each species, you’ll find out how to identify that lizard correctly, along with pictures, interesting facts, and RANGE MAPS!
6 Lizards IN Russia:
#1. European Glass Lizard
- Pseudopus apodus
Also known as Pallas’s Glass Lizard and European Legless Lizard.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults can reach a maximum length of 135 cm (4.43 ft).
- Their coloring varies, but most commonly, they are brown and tan with scattered orange or reddish dots.
At first glance, this lizard in Russia might be mistaken for a snake!
You need to look closely to identify its tiny vestigial legs. They’re almost non-existent, so this reptile slithers on its belly instead of walking around. And while this might be the most obvious difference between it and other lizards, it’s not the only one! These amazing creatures have a lifespan of up to 50 years, much longer than most animals.
This species prefers dry areas like sparsely wooded hills or short grasslands but is more active in wet weather. Its favorite meal is snails, which they crack with their hard teeth and strong jaw. However, they won’t say no to arthropods or small mammals either.
There are a few key differences you can look for to determine if you’ve found a legless lizard in Russia or a snake:
- Legless lizards have eyelids and ear openings, which snakes lack.
- Snakes have wide jaws that can be unhinged to consume large prey, while legless lizards’ jaws are fixed.
- Legless lizards have unforked or notched tongues, whereas snakes’ tongues are completely forked.
#2. Eastern Slowworm
- Anguis colchica
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults grow up to 50 cm (20 in) long.
- Their coloring is brown on the body with darker brown flanks.
- Males have noticeable blue spots on the back during mating season.
Eastern Slowworms are a type of legless lizard in Russia.
Despite their confusing name, these creatures aren’t worms at all! In fact, you might get them confused with a snake because of their lack of legs and the way they slither around on their bellies. Here are the differences to help you identify an Eastern Slowworm:
- Slowworms have eyelids and ear openings, which snakes lack.
- Snakes have wide jaws that can be unhinged to consume large prey, while slowworms’ jaws are fixed.
- Slowworms have unforked or notched tongues, whereas snakes’ tongues are completely forked.
You can find Eastern Slowworms in forest clearings and along trail paths basking in the sun. This species likes to occupy the burrows of small rodents but also feels at home under stone piles and wood debris. They often venture into suburban gardens, especially to catch a meal.
Although this reptile loves basking in the sun, it is most active at night and after rain. As its name suggests, it’s not one of the fastest lizards out there and prefers slower prey like earthworms, insect larvae, and slugs.
#3. Snake-eyed Lizard
- Ophisops elegans
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are about 5 cm (2 in) long.
- Their coloring is bronze or olive with black spots and white undersides.
- Males have a yellowish-green throat, chin, and vent during mating season.
The Snake-eyed Lizard in Russia gets its name because, like a snake, it has fixed eyelids. Its eyes are covered with transparent scales, which protect them from dirt and debris. Besides this feature, it bears no resemblance to a snake and maneuvers quickly with its legs on branches and rocks.
They’re excellent climbers and not easy to catch, so they have few predators. This has led to the species flourishing and increasing in population over the years. Spotting a Snake-eyed Lizard is easy due to its large population. Just wait near a rock during the day; dozens of them will appear to bask in the sun.
Snake-eyed Lizards mainly eat insects and invertebrates, which energize them for the mating season. After mating, the female lays between two and five eggs, producing two clutches per season. The young ones hatch in the late summer, and after a year, they are ready to follow in their parent’s footsteps to mate and reproduce on their own.
#4. Common Slow Worm
- Anguis fragilis
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 40-45 cm (15-18 in) long.
- They are smooth, scaled, and legless, with heads that are the same width as their bodies.
- Often these lizards have stripes that run the length of their bodies, but some are solid in color. Common coloring is olive, brown, tan, and black.
Despite their name, Slow Worms are not worms at all but rather legless lizards. And if you’re wondering whether a legless lizard is just a snake, the answer is no! The reptile world can get confusing but no less fascinating when it comes to creatures like these.
Slow Worms spend most of their time buried in sand or underneath rocks and debris. They can be hard to find unless you’re willing to upend some stones in your search!
One of the most interesting behaviors of Slow Worms and many other lizards is the ability to sever their tail to escape a predator. This skill is called Caudal Autotomy. If a predator is chasing a Slow Worm or grabs its tail, the lizard simply breaks it off and continues to escape.
#5. Viviparous Lizard
- Zootoca vivipara
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 5-7 cm (2-3 in) long.
- Their skin is mottled brown, tan, and black.
- They have long tails compared to their body; however, if their tails are lost to predators, only a short stub grows back.
These tiny lizards are tough when it comes to cool weather in Russia, and they will hibernate through the worst of winter, from October to March. They must bask in the sun to maintain their body temperature in the summer, so you’re likely to see them during the day.
Viviparous Lizards are named for their method of reproduction. Instead of laying eggs like most other reptiles, these lizards give birth to live young! It’s thought that this gives their offspring a better chance of survival because they don’t have to survive through a helpless stage of egg development. Interestingly, in some regions, this lizard does lay eggs, which may have to do with a lack of predators in the area.
#6. Sand Lizard
- Lacerta agilis
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 18-20 cm (7-8 in) long.
- Males are green with a brown stripe on the back and brown hind legs.
- Females are light brown with darker brown mottling.
As its name suggests, this lizard prefers dry habitats in Russia.
Look for sand lizards in rock gardens, beaches, dunes, or rocky outcrops. They spend most of the day in the open, basking in the sun to retain as much heat as possible. You’re likely only to see one at a time because these territorial lizards rarely bask together.
While basking, Sand Lizards need to remain alert to the many predators that view them as a tasty snack. Birds of prey, foxes, and cats appear to be some of the most common dangers for these lizards. However, they’re also hunted by snakes and badgers. When confronted by danger, they use their exceptional speed to flee. They can also separate their tail from the rest of their body to get away!
Do you want to learn about MORE animals in Russia?
Check out these ID Guides!
-
The 43 MOST Common Birds in Russia!
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The Complete List of FROGS found in Russia
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The VENOMOUS SNAKES that live in Russia
Which of these lizards in Russia have you seen?
Leave a comment below!
