Amphisbaena fuliginosa

Amphisbaena fuliginosa, also known as the black-and-white worm lizard, speckled worm lizard or spotted worm lizard,^[2] is a species of amphisbaenian in the genus Amphisbaena. The ecology of A. fuliginosa is poorly known due to its fossorial habits.^[3] However, this species can be easily distinguished from others because of its characteristic white and black mosaic pattern that covers both the dorsal and ventral side.^[3]

Amphisbaena fuliginosa
In French Guiana
A. f. bassleri, Ecuador
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertoidea
Clade:	Amphisbaenia
Family:	Amphisbaenidae
Genus:	Amphisbaena
Species:	A. fuliginosa
Binomial name
Amphisbaena fuliginosa Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms [1]
Amphisbaena vulgaris Laurenti, 1768 Amphisbaena magnifica Laurenti, 1768 Amphisbaena flava Laurenti, 1768 Amphisbaena americana Gray, 1844

Geographic range

It is found in northern South America including the island of Trinidad, and southwards to the Brazilian Cerrado biome.^[3] The southernmost areas of the Brazilian Cerrado where A. fuliginosa is found are Minas Gerais and Goiás.^[3]

Description

A. fuliginosa grows to a total length (body + tail) of 30–45 centimetres (12–18 in).

Habitat

It inhabits Amazonian forest areas.^[3]

Behavior and diet

A. fuliginosa

It is a burrowing nocturnal species and spends most of its time underground. A. fuliginosa will feed on any small invertebrate, or insect, that it can find while burrowing. Some of those insects include beetles, ants, termites, and other arthropods (such as spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and earthworms), but they also consume species of Orthoptera, such as crickets and grasshoppers, and sometimes on small vertebrates.^[4][5] When it finds its prey it will use its strong jaws to catch and kill it.

Reproduction

This species is oviparous.