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Munoa worm lizard

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(Redirected from Amphisbaena munoai) Species of lizard

Munoa worm lizard
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Amphisbaenidae
Genus: Amphisbaena
Species: A. munoai
Binomial name
Amphisbaena munoai
Klappenbach, 1960

The Munoa worm lizard (Amphisbaena munoai) is a small species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae of the reptilian order Squamata. The species is endemic to southern South America.

Etymology

The specific name, munoai, is in honor of Uruguayan zoologist Juan Ignacio Muñoa (1925–1960).

Habitat and behavior

A. munoai can be found hiding under stones or decomposing bark. Hiding under stones allows the amphisbaenian to raise its body temperature without exposing itself to predators.

Diet

The main component of the diet of A. munoai consists of termites, but it also consumes various types of small insect larva.

Reproduction

A. munoai has a seasonal reproductive cycle. Females are able to be fertilized between June and October while males display a high testicle volume during this period. Females carry eggs from November to December and thus it is believed that copulation occurs from September to November. The eggs of A. munoai are frequently found in ant nests. Sexually mature males have a significantly smaller snout-vent length than sexually mature females.

Geographic range

A. munoai can be found in the pampas biome of southern Brazil, a temperate climate, and in Uruguay.

References

  1. ^ Amphisbaena munoai at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 September 2015.
  2. ^ Andrade, Denis V.; Nascimento, Luciana B.; Abe, Augusto S. (2006). "Habits hidden underground: a review on the reproduction of the Amphisbaenia with notes on four neotropical species". Amphibia-Reptilia. 27 (2): 207–217. doi:10.1163/156853806777239995.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Amphisbaena munoai, p. 185).

Further reading

  • Klappenbach, Miguel A. (1960). "Notas herpetológicas, I. Amphisbaena munoai n. sp. (Amphisbaenidae)". Comunicaciones Zoológicas del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo 4 (84): 3. (in Spanish).


Taxon identifiers
Amphisbaena munoai
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