Zarudny's worm lizard | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
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] | |
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.
The specific name, zarudnyi, is in honor of Russian zoologist Nikolai Zarudny. [4]
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]
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]
D. zarudnyi typically measures approximately 30 cm (12 in) in total length (including tail). Because it has no limbs, it uses body undulations similar to a snake to move itself along. It has limited vision.
The diet of D. zarudnyi consists of insects (mainly larvae and adults of beetles of the genus Dermestes ), and other small invertebrates. [5]
D. zarudnyi is classified as Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN Red List. [1]
Amphisbaenia 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 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. Although superficially similar to the snakes and blind lizards, recent phylogenetic studies suggest that they are most closely related to wall lizards of the 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.
Bunopus is a genus of small geckos, lizards in the family Gekkonidae. The genus is endemic to the Middle East.
The Amphisbaenidae are a family of amphisbaenians, a group of limbless vertebrates.
Eumeces schneiderii, commonly known as Schneider's skink or the Berber skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Central Asia, Western Asia, and North Africa. There are five recognized subspecies.
Trogonophidae is a small family of amphisbaenians, containing five species in four genera.
Cerastes gasperettii, commonly known as the Arabian horned viper, is a venomous viper species found especially in the Arabian Peninsula and north to Israel, Iraq, and Iran. It is very similar in appearance to C. cerastes, but the geographic ranges of these two species do not overlap. No subspecies of C. gasperettii are recognized.
The Mexican mole lizard, also commonly known as the five-toed worm lizard, or simply as Bipes, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Bipedidae. The species is endemic to the Baja California Peninsula. It is one of four species of amphisbaenians that have legs.
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 checkerboard worm lizard is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Trogonophidae. The species is monotypic within the genus Trogonophis, and is endemic to North Africa. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, sandy shores, arable land, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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.
Amphisbaena schmidti, known commonly as Schmidt's worm lizard or the Puerto Rican dusky worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to the Caribbean.
Acanthodactylus gongrorhynchatus, also known commonly as the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Acanthocercus adramitanus, also known commonly as Anderson's rock agama or the Hadramaut agama, is a small species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.