OutdoorMissouri.com

This don't have a damn thing to do with 'shrooms...but some of y'all seem to be knowledge about critters, as well as 'shrooms, so I figure here is my best chance of getting the right answer.



I caught something.....uh let me rephrase that...I caught a critter last night that I've never seen before. Seems like I may have seen a picture of this a long time ago and it was called a "ribbon-something-or-other". Anywho, this thing was about 8-10" long, was cream-to-light tan in color with dark brown stripes (ribbons) running the length of the body. Head appeared lizard like and it was missing a good chunk of tail (as is common with some lizards) but the thing had no legs. It was cool as hell! Any suggestions?

Western Slender Glass Lizard:



Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus

Average total length is 26 inches. This is Missouri's longest species of lizard. They are often called a "glass snake" because they are long, slender and legless. However, they are true lizards, with eyelids and an ear opening on either side of the head; snakes have neither of these characteristics.

Nearly two-thirds of the lizard is tail, and a large part of it can break off if grabbed by a predator. Glass lizards are tan or brown with black stripes. They are grassland and savanna reptiles and found statewide.



Does this fit the bill ODF ?

That would be my guess, too, ODF.

Signed,

Rafe Hollister, B.S. Biology (Conservation, Ecology, Marine Biology)

That be the critter I caught. First one I've ever seen. Too bad my boy wasn't around to see it...I checked it out for a bit and then let it go on it's merry way.

I guess I have to take back my comment about finding the right answer down here, huh? You all are some smart mo-fo's, regardless of what PoisonSnake says about you!!

I caught one of those years ago, down in Bourbon, Mo. but the old n....... uhhhhhhhhhh, old YMCA Camp near Blue Springs Creek.