The neglected worm lizard (''Amphisbaena neglecta'') is a
worm lizard
Amphisbaenia (called amphisbaenians or worm lizards) is a group of usually legless squamates, comprising over 200 extant species. Amphisbaenians are characterized by their long bodies, the reduction or loss of the limbs, and rudimentary eyes. As ...
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
in the
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''
Amphisbaena
The amphisbaena (, , or , plural: amphisbaenae; grc, ἀμφίσβαινα) is a mythological, ant-eating serpent with a head at each end. The creature is alternatively called the amphisbaina, amphisbene, amphisboena, amphisbona, amphista, am ...
''. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
.
Geographic range
It is found in the
Central-West Region, Brazil
The Central-West or Center-West Region of Brazil ( pt, Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil; ) is composed of the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul; along with Distrito Federal (Federal District), where Brazil's national capital, Brasà ...
.
Status
The species is only known from the first specimen collected and has likely been threatened by a reservoir constructed for hydroelectric power, however extensive searches have not located this species.
Chapada dos Guimarães National Park
The Chapada dos Guimarães National Park ( pt, Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães) is a national park in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
It is a region of rugged terrain with dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, and contains the geographical c ...
is next to the reservoir so the worm lizard may be protected and also threatened.
[Mott, T. 2010]
Amphisbaena neglecta
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. . Downloaded on 07 May 2015.
See also
*
List of reptiles of Brazil
Total number of species = 976
''Nota bene'': In the following list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than the genus to which it is currently assigned.
Testudines Cheloniid ...
References
neglecta
Reptiles described in 1936
Taxa named by Emmett Reid Dunn
Taxa named by Jean Piatt
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