Excitable Delma

About the Excitable Delma

The excitable delma (Delma tincta) is a species of lizard in the Pygopodidae family endemic to Australia. The lizard gets its name from its active and jumpy defense mechanism. It will erratically jump multiple times in succession, each jump pivoting its body in a different direction. D. tincta is a slender, long legless lizard that through evolution lost its limbs. It is found throughout Australia in a variety of habitats, and spends most of its time hiding. Due to its nocturnal nature, it is rare to spot in the wild. This legless lizard is small to moderate in size, with a tail that is three to four times its body length. The typical size of the excitable delma is 250 – 300 mm. This lizard is an insectivore and feeds on insects it finds when travelling through grass, logs, surface soil, and loose rocks. Like all pygopodids, the excitable delma is oviparous and only lays two eggs per clutch.

The excitable delma is officially classified as Delma tincta from 1888 by De Vis, but in 1901, Garman referred to it as Delma reticulata. The twelve subgenera are: Marble-faced delma Delma australis Rusty-topped delma Delma borea

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