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Amphisbaenia
Amphisbaenia (called amphisbaenians or worm lizards) is a group of typically legless lizards, comprising over 200 extant species. Amphisbaenians are characterized by their long bodies, the reduction or loss of the limbs, and rudimentary eyes. As many species have a pink body and scales arranged in rings, they have a superficial resemblance to earthworms. While the genus '' Bipes'' retains forelimbs, all other genera are limbless. Phylogenetic studies suggest that they are nested within Lacertoidea, closely related to the lizard family Lacertidae. Amphisbaenians are widely distributed, occurring in North America, Europe, Africa, South America, Western Asia and the Caribbean. Most species are less than long. Description 200px, left, Close-up of the head of'' Rhineura'' Despite a superficial resemblance to some primitive snakes, amphisbaenians have many unique features that distinguish them from other reptiles. Internally, their right lung is reduced in size to fit their narrow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amphisbaenia 1
Amphisbaenia (called amphisbaenians or worm lizards) is a group of typically legless lizards, comprising over 200 extant species. Amphisbaenians are characterized by their long bodies, the reduction or loss of the limbs, and rudimentary eyes. As many species have a pink body and scales arranged in rings, they have a superficial resemblance to earthworms. While the genus ''Bipes (lizard), Bipes'' retains forelimbs, all other genera are limbless. Phylogenetic studies suggest that they are nested within Lacertoidea, closely related to the lizard family Lacertidae. Amphisbaenians are widely distributed, occurring in North America, Europe, Africa, South America, Western Asia and the Caribbean. Most species are less than long. Description image:Amphisbaenia 1.jpg, 200px, left, Close-up of the head of'' Rhineura'' Despite a superficial resemblance to some primitive snakes, amphisbaenians have many unique features that distinguish them from other reptiles. Internally, their right lung i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rhineuridae
Rhineuridae is a family of amphisbaenians (commonly called worm lizards) that includes one living genus and species, '' Rhineura floridana'', as well as many extinct species belonging to both ''Rhineura'' and several extinct genera. The living ''R. floridana'' is found only in Georgia and Florida, but extinct species ranged across North America, some occurring as far west as Oregon. The family has a fossil record stretching back 60 million years to the Paleocene and was most diverse in the continental interior during the Eocene and Oligocene. Fossil record The fossil record of the Rhineuridae extends back almost to the Mesozoic, with the oldest rhineurid, '' Plesiorhineura tsentasai'', occurring in the Early Paleocene. ''Plesiorhineura'' is only known from a partial jaw, but it shares many features with modern rhineurids. Eocene rhineurids, such as '' Spathorhynchus fossorium'', are remarkably similar to the modern ''Rhineura'', suggesting very conservative evolution within the fa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amphisbaena Alba
''Amphisbaena alba'', also known as the red worm lizard or less commonly as the white or white-bellied worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the reptilian order (biology), order Squamata. Despite the large geographic range that this species covers, little is known about its ecology due to its secretive habits. ''A. alba'' has a diverse diet ranging from plant material to small vertebrates (such as lizards and their eggs, snakes, mice, and other rodents). Numerically, beetles, ants, and spiders compose the majority of their diet; however, ants, insect larvae, beetles, cockroaches, hemipterans, mole crickets, crickets, grasshoppers, termites, spiders, scorpions, pseudoscorpions, and annelids are ingested to satisfy a larger volume. The females are somewhat larger than the males, and can reach over 80 cm, which is quite large for an amphisbaenian. They are known to bury themselves in leafcutter ant nests and hide in the ants' garbage dump areas to avoid irritating the ant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blanus Skull By Nick Longrich
''Blanus'', also known as ''worm lizards'', are a genus of amphisbaenians found in the Mediterranean region of Europe and North Africa. Like other amphisbaenians, ''Blanus'' species are specialized for a subterranean existence, with long, slender bodies, reduced limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Their skulls are powerfully constructed, allowing them to push through soil to create a burrow. Their jaws are well-developed, with large, recurved teeth and a pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw. Four to seven extant species are currently known. The relationships of ''Blanus'' to other worm-lizards are not clear. The genus was formerly included in the Amphisbaenidae. More recent analyses suggest that blanids are more primitive, and are either related to '' Bipes'' or represent an even more ancient lineage. A number of fossils from Europe have been referred either to ''Blanus'' or to the Blanidae. Species The genus contains the following species: Blanus Wikispecies. * '' Blanus alex ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amphisbaenidae
The Amphisbaenidae (common name: worm lizards) are a Family (biology), family of amphisbaenians, a group of limbless vertebrates. There are 12 genera, containing 183 species. Geographic range Amphisbaenids occur in South America, some Caribbean islands, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. Taxonomy One deep-branching and somewhat aberrant genus, ''Blanus'', is native to Europe, and may represent a distinct family. More recent sources indeed place it in the family Blanidae. Description Members of the family Amphisbaenidae are limbless, Fossorial, burrowing reptiles with carnivorous diets. As in other amphisbaenians, the body bears rings of scales, which gives amphisbaenids a worm-like appearance. The head is massively constructed and used for burrowing, with powerful jaws and large, recurved teeth used for seizing prey. Some species have a spade-like head, while others have a narrow keel on the head, and still others have a rounded skull. The eyes are highly reduced, while the ear bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bipedidae
Bipedidae is a family of amphisbaenians that includes the extant genus '' Bipes'' represented by three species from Baja California and the southern coast of Mexico and the extinct genus '' Anniealexandria'' represented by one species that lived in what is now Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ... during the earliest Eocene around 55 million years ago. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Bipedidae is most closely related to the family Blanidae, which includes the living genus '' Blanus''. Bipedidae are very small, usually ranging from 120 to 240 mm. They lack external hind limbs and are the only amphisbaenians with well-developed fossorial front limbs, which each include five claws. They have a short tail that does not regenerate if lost. They use thei ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blanidae
''Blanus'', also known as ''worm lizards'', are a genus of amphisbaenians found in the Mediterranean region of Europe and North Africa. Like other amphisbaenians, ''Blanus'' species are specialized for a subterranean existence, with long, slender bodies, reduced limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Their skulls are powerfully constructed, allowing them to push through soil to create a burrow. Their jaws are well-developed, with large, recurved teeth and a pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw. Four to seven extant species are currently known. The relationships of ''Blanus'' to other worm-lizards are not clear. The genus was formerly included in the Amphisbaenidae. More recent analyses suggest that blanids are more primitive, and are either related to '' Bipes'' or represent an even more ancient lineage. A number of fossils from Europe have been referred either to ''Blanus'' or to the Blanidae. Species The genus contains the following species: Blanus Wikispecies. * '' Blanus alex ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trogonophidae
Trogonophidae (Palearctic worm lizards or desert ringed lizards) is a small family of amphisbaenians, containing six species in four genera. Geographic range Trogonophids are found in North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and western Iran. Description Trogonophids are limbless, carnivorous, lizard-like reptiles highly modified for burrowing. They construct their tunnels with an oscillating motion that forces soil into the walls. Unlike other amphisbaenians, their teeth are fused to their jaws, rather than lying in a groove. Genera The following four genera are recognized as being valid. *'' Agamodon'' (three species) *'' Diplometopon'' (monotypic) *'' Pachycalamus'' (monotypic) *'' Trogonophis'' (monotypic) The following fossil taxa are also known: * '' Palaeoblanus'' Schleich, 1988 * '' Terastiodontosaurus'' Georgalis ''et al'', 2024 * '' Todrasaurus'' Augé & Rage, 2006 ''Terastiodontosaurus'' from the Early or Middle Eocene of Tunisia is the lar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blanus
''Blanus'', also known as ''worm lizards'', are a genus of amphisbaenians found in the Mediterranean region of Europe and North Africa. Like other amphisbaenians, ''Blanus'' species are specialized for a subterranean existence, with long, slender bodies, reduced limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Their skulls are powerfully constructed, allowing them to push through soil to create a burrow. Their jaws are well-developed, with large, recurved teeth and a pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw. Four to seven extant species are currently known. The relationships of ''Blanus'' to other worm-lizards are not clear. The genus was formerly included in the Amphisbaenidae. More recent analyses suggest that blanids are more primitive, and are either related to '' Bipes'' or represent an even more ancient lineage. A number of fossils from Europe have been referred either to ''Blanus'' or to the Blanidae. Species The genus contains the following species: Blanus Wikispecies. * '' Blanus alex ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lacertoidea
The Lacertoidea is a group of squamate reptiles that includes the Lacertidae, Teiidae, Gymnophthalmidae, and Amphisbaenia. The finding from molecular phylogenetic studies that the burrowing Amphisbaenia were nested in a clade with the lizard forms led Vidal & Hedges (2005) to propose a new name for the group based on shared morphogical characters, Laterata, "referring to the presence of tile-like (squarish or quadrangular, and sometimes raised) scales that form the rings in Amphisbaenia, and are also present ventrally in Lacertiformata and Teiformata". Studies of anatomy have traditionally grouped the lacertoids with skinks; however, more recent studies focusing on DNA have placed them as a distinct group of lizards, more closely related to the venomous Toxicofera.Wiens, J. J., Hutter, C. R., Mulcahy, D. G., Noonan, B. P., Townsend, T. M., Sites, J. W., & Reeder, T. W. (2012). Resolving the phylogeny of lizards and snakes (Squamata) with extensive sampling of genes and species. Bi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blanus Cinereus
The Iberian worm lizard, Mediterranean worm lizard, or European worm lizard (''Blanus cinereus'') is a species of reptile in the family Blanidae (worm lizards) of the clade Amphisbaenia. The Iberian worm lizard is locally known as ''cobra-cega'' ( Portuguese), ''culebrilla ciega'' (Spanish), and ''colobreta cega'' ( Catalan), all meaning "blind snake". Recent studies into the mitochondrial and nuclear genomic data of 47 isolated ''B. cinereus'' populations show rather large sequence divergence between two apparent clades, leading some researchers to call for a division of the Iberian worm lizard into two species. While little is known of ''B. cinereus'' in comparison with some other reptile species, new insight is growing about this primitive, ancestral reptile. Geographic range The Iberian worm lizard is found within Portugal and through most of central and southern Spain. Habitat ''B. cinereus'' is a subterranean species found in a wide variety of Mediterranean habitats. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cadeidae
''Cadea'' is a genus of amphisbaenians, commonly known as Cuban keel-headed worm lizards, in the family Cadeidae. Two species are placed in this genus. Both species are endemic to Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the .... Species *'' Cadea blanoides'' ( Stejneger, 1916) – spotted amphisbaena *'' Cadea palirostrata'' ( Dickerson, 1916) – sharp-nosed amphisbaena, Dickerson's worm lizard, Cuban sharp-nosed amphisbaena References Further reading * Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". ''Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History'' (289): 1–130. * Gray JE (1844). ''Catalogue of the Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Amphisbænians, in the Collection of the British Museum''. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edwar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
