Roze's worm lizard (''Amphisbaena rozei'') is a
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 ...
of
amphisbaenian
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 ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Amphisbaenidae
The Amphisbaenidae (common name: worm lizards) are a family of amphisbaenians, a group of limbless vertebrates.
Geographic range
Amphisbaenids occur in South America, some Caribbean islands, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomy
One deep- ...
. The species 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 else ...
to
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''rozei'', is in honor of Latvian-born American herpetologist
Janis Roze
Jānis Arnolds Roze, born in Latvia in 1926, is a herpetologist and Professor of Biology Emeritus of City College and Graduate School of the City University of New York.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictiona ...
.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Amphisbaena rozei'', p. 228).]
Geographic range
''A. rozei'' is found in
Bolívar state, Venezuela.
Habitat
The preferred
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
of ''A. rozei'' is
forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
.
Description
''A. rozei'' has four precloacal pores. The dorsal surface of the tail is covered by strong tubercles.
[
]
Reproduction
''A. rozei'' is oviparous.[
]
References
Further reading
* Costa HC, Señaris JC, Rojas-Runjaic FJM, Zaher H, Garcia PCA (2018). "Redescription of the rare South American worm lizard ''Amphisbaena rozei'' (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae)". ''Amphibia-Reptilia'' 39 (1): 21–30.
* Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". ''Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History'' (289): 1–130. (''Amphisbaena rozei'', p. 19).
* Lancini AR (1963). "''Una nueva espécie del género ''Amphisbaena'' (Sauria: Amphisbaenidae) de Venezuela'' ". ''Publicaciones Ocasionales del Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Caracas, Zoología'' 6: 1–3. (''Amphisbaena rozei'', new species). (in Spanish).
* Vanzolini PE (2002). "An aid to the identification of South American species of ''Amphisbaena'' (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae)". ''Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo'' 42 (15): 351–362.
Amphisbaena (lizard)
Reptiles described in 1963
Taxa named by Abdem Ramón Lancini Villalaz
Endemic fauna of Venezuela
Reptiles of Venezuela
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