Mysterious snake-like creature, with a forked tail like the tail of a 'mermaid': The name surprised everyone!

On the Facebook group Fast Snake Identification (Australia Wide) with nearly 60,000 members, a member named Claire Smith-Ince posted a photo of the strange creature that received the attention of other members of the group.

Accordingly, the member who posted the photo wants to ask other members about its scientific name. He said a friend of his took this photo and almost stepped on the creature. The location where the photo was taken is in Shark Bay, Australia (See photo below).

What creature is this?

Many people were amazed at the creature with such a forked tail. They commented that they had never seen a snake like it. Some even describe this tail as the tail of. a mermaid.

But the answer will surprise you just as much when you see the picture above. In fact, this creature with a "mermaid" tail is a. lizard. Specifically, it is a legless lizard, whose scientific name is Pygopus nigriceps.

This is a species of lizard endemic to Australia, they have a look that is easily confused with snakes because of their elongated body. But if you look closely at the head, you will immediately see the difference, this legless lizard has a length of only 45 to 55 cm.

Although they have a pair of very small and paddle-shaped hind legs, they do not play much role in helping this lizard move. The forked tail of the upper lizard is also not caused by the hind legs.

Paddle-shaped hind legs. Photo: Frog Blog Manchester

Therefore, a lizard with a tail like a "mermaid" remains an unsolved mystery!

Legless lizards often eat small insects, even spider eggs, they are nocturnal and move in the same way that snakes do. Their way of self-defense is also quite similar to that of cobras when raising their heads, flattening their necks as if they are swollen.

However, legless lizards are non-venomous and harmless to humans, their enemies are predators such as raptors, water snakes, wild cats, foxes, Goanna lizards.