Some snakes swim in the sand. The Australian Sandfish, the nearly legless Neoseps of Central Florida, several other lizards and some snakes are known for swimming in the sand. They go underground by wriggling in through the loose soil or sand. The sand viper of the African desert swims into the sand and sticks the black tip of its tail out to attract prey. Sand swimmers are mainly desert animals.
Monitors, some other lizards and some tortoises live in permanent burrows. The burrows serve to beat the heat and the cold and for hiding from enemies. These reptiles come out of their burrows to eat. Another group of reptiles spent their entire lives under the ground. Blind legless lizards fall into this group. They tunnel great distances in search of worms and insects. These strange creatures have lived in the soil, since the days of the dinosaurs.