Zarudny's worm lizard

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Zarudny's worm lizard
Diplometopon zarudnyi 56021622.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Trogonophidae
Genus: Diplometopon
Nikolsky, 1907
Species:
D. zarudnyi
Binomial name
Diplometopon zarudnyi
Nikolsky, 1907 [2]
Synonyms [3]
  • Diplometopon zarudnyi
    Nikolsky, 1907
  • Pachycalamus zarudnyi
    Boulenger, 1920
  • Diplometopon zarudnyi
    Haas, 1957
  • Diplometopon shueaibi
    Niazi, 1979
  • Diplometopon zarudnyi
    Gans, 2005

Zarudny's worm lizard (Diplometopon zarudnyi) is a species of amphisbaenian reptile in the family Trogonophidae. The species is monotypic within the genus Diplometopon. The species is native to the Middle East.

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, zarudnyi, is in honor of Russian zoologist Nikolai Zarudny. [4]

Geographic range

D. zarudnyi is found in western Iran, southern Iraq, and on the Arabian Peninsula in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, northern Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. [3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of D. zarudnyi are desert, grassland, and shrubland, at altitudes from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). [1]

Description

D. zarudnyi typically measures approximately 30 cm (12 in) in total length (including tail).[ citation needed ] Because it has no limbs, it uses body undulations similar to a snake to move itself along.[ citation needed ] It has limited vision.[ citation needed ]

Behavior

D. zarudnyi is terrestrial and fossorial, burrowing in sand or loose soil. [1]

Diet

The diet of D. zarudnyi consists of insects (mainly larvae and adults of beetles of the genus Dermestes ), and other small invertebrates. [5]

Reproduction

D. zarudnyi is oviparous. [3]

Conservation status

D. zarudnyi is classified as Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN Red List. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Amphisbaenia 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 6 inches (15 cm) long.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphisbaenidae</span> Family of amphisbaenians

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trogonophidae</span> Family of amphisbaenians

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<i>Rhineura floridana</i> Species of reptile

Rhineura floridana, known commonly as the Florida worm lizard, graveyard snake, or thunderworm, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Rhineuridae. The species is the only extant member of the genus Rhineura, and is found primarily in Florida but has been recorded in Lanier County, Georgia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican mole lizard</span> Species of lizard

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iberian worm lizard</span> Species of amphisbaenian

The Iberian worm lizard, Mediterranean worm lizard, or European worm lizard is a species of reptile in the family Blanidae 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.

The short worm lizard is a species of reptile in the Trogonophidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pachycalamus. It is found on the island of Socotra.

Stenodactylus slevini, also known commonly as Slevin's sand gecko or Slevin's short-fingered gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Western Asia.

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Acanthodactylus haasi, also known commonly as Haas' fringe-fingered lizard or Haas's fringe-toed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.

<i>Acanthodactylus orientalis</i> Species of lizard

Acanthodactylus orientalis is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Western Asia.

Acanthodactylus robustus, also known commonly as the robust fringe-fingered lizard and the robust fringe-toed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Middle East.

<i>Acanthodactylus schmidti</i> Species of lizard

Acanthodactylus schmidti, also known commonly as Schmidt's fringe-fingered lizard or Schmidt's fringe-toed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Western Asia.

Acanthodactylus tilburyi, known commonly as Tilbury's fringe-fingered lizard, Tilbury's fringe-toed lizard, and Tilbury's spiny-footed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Middle East.

<i>Mediodactylus russowii</i> Species of lizard

Mediodactylus russowii, also known commonly as the grey thin-toed gecko, Russow's bent-toed gecko, and the Transcaspian bent-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Asia. There are two recognized subspecies.

Scincus hemprichii is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to the Arabian Peninsula.

<i>Acanthocercus adramitanus</i> Species of lizard

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Behbehani, S.J.Y.; Els, J.; Soorae, P.; Al Johany, A.M.H.; Papenfuss, T. (2012). "Diplometopon zarudnyi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T164643A1063445. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T164643A1063445.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. "Diplometopon zarudnyi Nikolsky, 1907". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Species Diplometopon zarudnyi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  4. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Diplometopon zarudnyi, p. 293).
  5. Al-Sadoon MK, Paray BA, Rudayni HA (2016). "Diet of the Worm Lizard, Diplometopon zarudnyi (Nikolsky, 1907), in Riyadh province, Saudi Arabia (Reptilia: Trogonophidae)". Zoology in the Middle East62 (3): 227–230.

Further reading