Leposternon microcephalum

Leposternon microcephalum
In Brazil
Illustration
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Clade:	Amphisbaenia
Family:	Amphisbaenidae
Genus:	Leposternon
Species:	L. microcephalum
Binomial name
Leposternon microcephalum Wagler, 1824
Synonyms [2]
Leposternon microcephalus Wagler, 1824 Leposternon microcephalum — Fitzinger, 1826 Lepidosternon microcephalum — A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839 Amphisbaena microcephala — Oliveira et al., 2010 Leposternon microcephalum — Cacciali et al., 2016

Leposternon microcephalum, also known commonly as the smallhead worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae in the reptilian order Squamata. The species is endemic to South America.

Geographic range

L. microcephalum is found in southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. ^{[1] [2]} It occurs in the Itatiaia National Park between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais in Brazil. ^[3]

Ecology

Amphisbaenians have few predators due to their fossorial habits, powerful bite, and defensive tactics. However, some snakes have been found feeding on amphisbaenians including L. microcephalum. ^[3]

Reproduction

L. microcephalum is oviparous. ^[2]

References

1. Montero, R. (2019). "Leposternon microcephalum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T56039205A56039214. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T56039205A56039214.en . Retrieved 25 December 2022.
2. Leposternon microcephalum at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 28 April 2015.
3. Caramaschi U, de Niemeyer H (2012). "Unsuccessful predation of Elapomorphus quinquelineatus (Serpentes: Colubridae) on Amphisbaena microcephala (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae)". Herpetology Notes. 5: 429–430.

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in The British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Amphisbænidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (Lepidosternon microcephalum, p. 462).
• Cacciali P, Scott NJ, Ortíz ALA, Fitzgerald LA, Smith P (2016). "The Reptiles of Paraguay: Literature, Distribution, and an Annotated Taxonomic Checklist". Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Special Publication (11): 1–373.
• Gans C (1971). "Studies on Amphisbaenians (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia). 4. A review of the amphisbaenid genus Leposternon ". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History144 (6): 379–464. (Leposternon microcephalum, pp. 415–435, 451–456, Figures 24–44, 53–55).
• Wagler J (1824). In: Spix J (1824). Serpentum Brasiliensum species novae ou histoire naturelle des espèces nouvelles de serpens, recueillies et observées pendant le voyage dans l'intérieur du Brésil dans les années 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820 exécuté par ordre de sa Majesté le Roi de Baviére. Munich: F.S. Hübschmann. viii + 75 pp. + Plates I-XXVI. (Leposternon microcephalus, new species, pp. 70–71 + Plate XXVI, figures 2–3). (in Latin and French).