short-headed worm lizard
Quick Summary
The short-headed worm lizard, also known as Trogonophis, is a type of limbless lizard belonging to the amphisbaenian family Trogonophidae. These reptiles are characterized by their spade-shaped heads and are found in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Horn of Africa.1
Amphisbaenians, in general, are burrowing lizards that lack external eyes and ear openings, with their eyes covered by scales. The Florida worm lizard (Rhineura floridana) is the only living member of the Rhineuridae family and is found only in Florida. These wormlike lizards prey on spiders, worms, and termites, and they reproduce by laying eggs. They spend most of their lives underground, constructing tunnels by pushing their heads into the soil.2
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