Japanese grass lizard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Japanese grass lizard
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification

face of Takydromus tachydromides

Takydromus tachydromoides is the Japanese grass lizard, found in Japan. Its Japanese name is 'kanahebi'(カナヘビ). 'Hebi' means 'snake' in Japanese, although this lizard is not a snake.

There are three lizards found in the four main islands of Japan. The other two are the Japanese gekko (also, Schlegel's Japanese gekko, Gekko japonicus), and the Japanese five-lined skink (Eumeces latiscutatus, also Plestiodon latiscutatus; this skink shows five lines only as a juvenile).

The lizard is 18-25cm long. The tail occupies more than 2/3 of the total length. Surface looks like dry. They live in grassland and on rooves. They needs to bask in the sun for temperature control. They eat insects and spiders. They lay white eggs. They don't protect their eggs.