amphisbaenian

Amphisbaenians are a little-known group of reptiles that are seldom seen because they are burrowers and live almost entirely underground. They construct a maze of underground tunnels in search of food like grubs and worms. While they have small eyes that can detect light, they appear to rely more on hearing to locate prey. Amphisbaenians lack an external ear, but they possess a unique auditory mechanism that transmits vibrations to the inner ear through a dense layer of skin and a cartilage rod. This system allows them to detect aerial sounds and determine their direction. In classical mythology, an amphisbaena was a serpent with a head at each end.12