The Colchis spindle, which was considered extinct in Moscow, has been rediscovered in Losiny Ostrov.

The population of the Colchian spindle, a legless lizard that was considered completely extinct in Moscow, most likely was not interrupted, the Department of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Protection told TASS.

The spindle was discovered again in Losiny Ostrov in 2025. The lizard leads a very secretive lifestyle: it spends almost all its time under leaf litter, in rotten stumps or rodent burrows. The lizard is extremely rare on the surface.

This lizard is often mistaken for a snake. Despite the external similarity, this is a completely safe animal: it is not poisonous, does not hiss and does not attack people. The spindle is distinguished from snakes by its movable eyelids, small oval head, and ability to drop its tail when in danger.

The reptile feeds on insects, mollusks and earthworms, benefiting gardeners and gardeners.