Amphisbaena fuliginosa

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]

Amphisbaena fuliginosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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

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 are 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. Some of those insects include beetles, ants, termites, and other arthropods (such as spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and earthworms), but they also consume species of Orthoptera, such as crickets and grasshoppers, and sometimes on small vertebrates.[4][5] When it finds its prey it will use its strong jaws to catch and kill it.

Reproduction

This species is oviparous.

Human interaction

In Yanomami mythology Amphisbaena are said to emerge from the spinal columns of warriors killed in battle, and have a supernatural connection to the underworld. When one is encountered in a village it is customary to ask it "Who are you? Where do you come from?" If it responds with a high pitch cry it has good intentions. If it remains silent it may have nefarious intentions.[6]

References
  1. "Amphisbaena fuliginosa Linnaeus, 1758". Reptile-reptarium.cz. 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. 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.
  4. "Amphisbaena fuliginosa (Black and White Worm Lizard)" (PDF). Sta.uwi.edu. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. https://www.reptilesofecuador.com/amphisbaena_bassleri.html
  6. Lizot, Jacques (1991). Tales of the Yanomami : daily life in the Venezuelan forest (Canto ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-40672-2. OCLC 38282806.
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