Patient of the Week - Stumpy the Burton’s Snake Lizard
Last week, a wildlife carer arrived at the Australian Wildlife Hospital with a small unidentified “snake” that a neighbour had accidentally injured. The “snake” was in fact a Burton’s Snake Lizard and the lower third of its body was almost totally severed.

Named Stumpy, Dr Robyn gave her a full examination while under anethestic, and found the point where the injury had occurred was below Stumpy’s cloaca (bottom). A couple of centimetres further up and Stumpy would not have survived the injury at all.

Dr Robyn surgically removed the tail and closed the open wound with stitches and was prescribed pain relief, anti-biotic and anti inflammatory.

The next day Stumpy laid two beautiful eggs, which are now being incubated and will hopefully hatch in the coming weeks. After giving birth, Dr Robyn decided Stumpy should be fed, which in itself proved to be a challenge.

Burton’ Snake Lizards feed almost exclusively on small skinks, which they swallow whole. Feeding skinks to a patient was not possible, so Stumpy was instead tube fed a protein mix straight into her stomach.

This week Stumpy finished her medication and Dr Robyn feels the stitches will be able to be removed in another week’s time, after which she can be returned home to the wild.

Burton’s Snake Lizards are often mistaken as snakes as they only have tiny scaly flaps where there would normally be legs. They are in fact harmless and are quite beautifully marked lizards with a uniquely shaped snout design to tightly hold prey. Interestingly, like geckos, Burton’s Snake Lizards don’t have eye lids, instead using their wide tongue to moisten and clean their eyes.

Burton’s Snake Lizards are commonly found across mainland Australia.

Please call the Australian Wildlife Hospital on 1300 369 652 for all wildlife emergencies.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 9:46 am and is filed under Wildlife Warriors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.