Amphisbaena mertensii

Amphisbaena mertensii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Amphisbaenidae
Genus:Amphisbaena
Species: A. mertensii
Binomial name
Amphisbaena mertensii
Synonyms
  • Amphisbaena mertensii
    Strauch, 1881
  • Amphisbaena bohlsii Boulenger, 1894
  • Amphisbaena mattogrossensis
    Peracca, 1898
  • Amphisbaena carrucci Masi, 1911
  • Amphisbaena boulengeri Masi, 1911
  • Amphisbaena albissima
    Amaral, 1932
  • Amphisbaena mertensi — Cei, 1993
  • Amphisbaena mertensii
    — Gans, 2005[1]

Amphisbaena mertensii is a worm lizard species in the genus Amphisbaena. This species is endemic to South America. Amphisbaenians are fossorial reptiles with few predators due to their powerful bite and writhing defensive tactics.[2] However, some snakes have been found feeding on Amphisbaenians including A. mertensii.[2] This species is also able to defend itself against dangerous predators such as snakes by releasing a foul discharge from its cloacal region.[2]

Etymology

The specific name, mertensii, is in honor of German naturalist Karl Heinrich Mertens.

Geographic range

It is found in northern Argentina, southeastern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. 1 2 3 Barbo, F.E., Marques, O.A.V., 2003, Do aglyphous colubrid snakes prey on live amphisbaenids able to bite. Phyllomedusa, 2(2): 113-114.

Further reading

  • Boulenger, G.A. 1885. Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II...Amphisbænidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers.) xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I.- XXIV. (Amphisbæna mertensii, p. 441.)
  • Gans, C. 2005. Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World. Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist. (289): 1-130. (Amphisbaena mertensii, p. 17.)
  • Strauch, A. 1881. Bemerkungen über die Eidechsenfamilie der Amphisbaeniden. Mélange biologiques tirés du Bulletin physico-mathématique de l'Académie des Sciences de Saint-Pétersburg 11: 355-479. (Amphisbaena mertensii, p. 385.)

See also


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