Amphisbaena mertensii

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.

Amphisbaena mertensii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Amphisbaenidae
Genus: Amphisbaena
Species:
A. mertensii
Binomial name
Amphisbaena mertensii
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

Defensive behavior

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]

Etymology

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

Geographic range

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

Reproduction

A. mertensii is oviparous.[2]

See also

References
  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.
  2. Species Amphisbaena mertensii at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 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.

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA (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". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (289): 1–130. (Amphisbaena mertensii, p. 17.)



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