''Zygaspis'' is a

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 ...

of amphisbaenians in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Amphisbaenidae.

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 are commonly known as purple round-headed worm lizards, and are native to equatorial and southern Africa.

Species

The genus contains eight species: *'' Zygaspis dolichomenta'' *''

Zygaspis ferox ''Zygaspis ferox'' is a worm lizard species in the family Amphisbaenidae. It is endemic to Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Ri ...

'' *'' Zygaspis kafuensis'' *'' Zygaspis maraisi'' *'' Zygaspis nigra'' *''

Zygaspis quadrifrons ''Zygaspis quadrifrons'', also known as the Kalahari dwarf worm lizard or Kalahari round-snouted worm lizard, is a worm lizard species in the family Amphisbaenidae The Amphisbaenidae (common name: worm lizards) are a family of amphisbaenians ...

'' – Kalahari round-snouted worm lizard, Kalahari dwarf worm lizard *''

Zygaspis vandami Van Dam's dwarf worm lizard (''Zygaspis vandami''), also known commonly as the sand-dwelling dwarf worm lizard and Van Dam's round-headed worm lizard, is a species of Amphisbaenia, amphisbaenian in the Family (biology), family Amphisbaenidae. The ...

'' – Van Dam's dwarf worm lizard *'' Zygaspis violacea'' ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Zygaspis''.

Species

References

Further reading