Worm Lizards &
Tuatara
Herpetoculture
Pensacola Jr College
THE WORM LIZARDS
Worm Lizards --
Classification
w Phylum Chordata
w Subphylum Vertebrata
w Superclass Tetrapoda
w Class Reptilia
w Order Squamata
w Suborder Amphisbaenia
Order Squamata
w Lizards, snakes,
amphisbaenians
w High degree of skull kinesis
w Hemipenes with sulcus
spermaticus groove in each
w Scales of varying shapes and
sizes
Order Squamata
(contd)
w Limb reduction common
w Often have caudal autotomy
w Transverse anal opening
w Jacobsons organ in roof of
mouth (chemosensory)
Suborder
Amphisbaenia
w Range: N America (Baja CA /
Florida), S America, Africa, Middle East
w Physical characteristics:
No limbs or forelimbs only
Thickened solid skull, spade
shaped in front
Rear facing nostrils
Suborder
Amphisbaenia
w Physical characteristics:
Large interlocking teeth
Fused eyelids (like snakes)
Eyes covered by clear skin
layer (blind)
No external ear openings
Upper lip extends over lower
Skin loose (free from
tissue)
Suborder Amphisbaenia
w Physical characteristics:
Continuous annular rings
around body (2 per vertebra)
Left lung only
Caudal autotomy (no
regeneration)
Skull modifications
correlate with soil density and depth of species
Suborder
Amphisbaenia
w Move mostly by rectilinear
motion using free skin, muscles, and spade head
w Only full-time burrowing
reptiles
w Feeding: insects, worms,
some small vertebrates
w Predators: colubrid snakes
Suborder
Amphisbaenia
w Reproduction:
w Most are oviparous
w A few live-bearing
w Use hemipenes for internal
fertilization
w Little else known yet
Florida Worm Lizard
Mole Lizard (Baja CA)
Red Worm Lizard
Speckled Worm
Lizard
Shorthead Worm
Lizard
THE TUATARAS
Tuataras -- Classification
w
Phylum Chordata
w
Subphylum Vertebrata
w
Superclass Tetrapoda
w Class Reptilia
w Order Rhynchocephalia
Order
Rhynchocephalia
w Range: 20-30 tiny islands
off of New Zealand coast
w Physical characteristics:
Lizard-like in general
appearance
Males ~ 2 pounds
Females ~ 1 pound
No ears or eardrums
Order
Rhynchocephalia
w Physical characteristics:
Triangular skin folds form
crest on back and tail (soft but can be stiffened in display)
Parietal / pineal eye on top
of head, most prominent in young
Tapetum lucidum in retina
reflects light for night vision
Teeth are jawbone serrations
Order
Rhynchocephalia
w Physical characteristics:
Primitive skull, vertebrae,
ribs, and heart
Bony skeleton in abdominal
wall
w Burrow by day (except to
bask) and feed at night
w Feeding: insects, inverts,
lizards, seabird eggs/chicks
Order
Rhynchocephalia
w Lowest metabolic rate of
reptiles
w Reproduction:
Internal fert. using cloacal
kiss
Lay eggs in burrow 9 months
after mating and leave them
15 month incubation period!!
Sexual maturity at 20 years
w Lifespan may be 120 yrs
Tuatara Skull
Northern Tuatara
Northern Tuatara
Brothers Tuatara
Hatching Tuatara