Amphisbaena fuliginosa

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Amphisbaena fuliginosa
Amphisbaena fuliginosa.jpg
Museum specimen

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Amphisbaenidae
Genus: Amphisbaena
Species:
A. fuliginosa
Binomial name
Amphisbaena fuliginosa
Synonyms [1]
  • Amphisbaena vulgaris Laurenti, 1768
  • Amphisbaena magnifica Laurenti, 1768
  • Amphisbaena flava Laurenti, 1768
  • Amphisbaena americana Gray, 1844

Amphisbaena fuliginosa, also known as the black-and-white worm lizard, speckled worm lizard or spotted worm lizard,[2] is a species of amphisbaenian in the genus Amphisbaena. The ecology of A. fuliginosa is poorly known due to its fossorial habits.[3] However, this species can be easily distinguished from others because of its characteristic white and black mosaic pattern that covers both the dorsal and ventral side.[3]

Geographic range[]

It is found in northern South America including the island of Trinidad, and southwards to the Brazilian Cerrado biome.[3] The southernmost areas of the Brazilian Cerrado where A. fuliginosa is found is Minas Gerais, and Goiás.[3]

Description[]

A. fuliginosa grows to a total length (body + tail) of 30–45 centimetres (12–18 in).

Habitat[]

It inhabits Amazonian forest areas.[3]

Behavior and diet[]

It is a burrowing nocturnal species and spends most of its time underground. A. fuliginosa will feed on any small invertebrate, or insect, that it can find while burrowing. When it finds its prey it will use its strong jaws to catch and kill it.

Reproduction[]

This species is oviparous.

References[]

  1. ^ "Amphisbaena fuliginosa Linnaeus, 1758". The Reptile Database. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  2. ^ M. Wrobel (2004). "Amphisbaena fuliginosa". Elsevier's Dictionary of Reptiles: in Latin, English, German, French and Italian. London: Elsevier. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-444-51499-8.
  3. ^ a b c d e Paulo Nogueira-Costa; Flávia Vieira de Oliveira Aguiar; Guilherme Ramos da Silva; Mariana Campelo Afonso; José Thiago Barbosa Baldine & Marcos Ferreira Venâncio (2013). "Reptilia, Squamata, Amphisbaenidae, Amphisbaena fuliginosa wiedi Vanzolini, 1951: distribution extension". CheckList. 9 (1): 167–168. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
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