Amphisbaena mertensii (original) (raw)

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Species of lizard

Amphisbaena mertensii
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Amphisbaenidae
Genus: Amphisbaena
Species: A. mertensii
Binomial name
Amphisbaena mertensiiStrauch, 1881
Synonyms[2]
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

Amphisbaena mertensii, also known as the Mertens' worm lizard or Mertens's worm lizard, is a species of worm lizard in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to South America.

Amphisbaenians are fossorial reptiles with few predators due to their powerful bite and writhing defensive tactics.[3] However, some snakes have been found feeding on amphisbaenians including A. mertensii.[3] This species is also able to defend itself against dangerous predators such as snakes by releasing a foul discharge from its cloacal region.[3]

The specific name, mertensii, is in honor of a Dr. Mertens who collected the holotype.[4][5]

A. mertensii is found in northern Argentina, southeastern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay.[2]

A. mertensii is oviparous.[2]

  1. ^ Montero, R. (2019). "Amphisbaena mertensii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T56039194A56039199. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T56039194A56039199.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Species Amphisbaena mertensii at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ a b c Barbo, Fausto Errito & Marques, Otavio A. V. (2003). "Do aglyphous colubrid snakes prey on live amphisbaenids able to bite?". Phyllomedusa. 2 (2): 113–114. doi:10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v2i2p113-114.
  4. ^ 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, new species, p. 385). (Reprinted from Bulletin de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de Saint-Pétersbourg 28: 45-131). (in German).
  5. ^ Gans, Carl (1966). "Redescription of Amphisbaena mertensi Strauch, with comments on its geographic variation and synonymy (Amphisbaenia: Reptilia)". Copeia. 1966 (3): 534–548. doi:10.2307/1441079. JSTOR 1441079.