Black-and-white worm lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-and-white worm lizard |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amphisbaena
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| Species: |
fuliginosa
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| Synonyms | |
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The speckled worm lizard (scientific name: Amphisbaena fuliginosa) is a unique type of lizard. It's also known as the black-and-white worm lizard or spotted worm lizard. These lizards are quite special because they spend most of their lives underground. They have a cool pattern of white and black spots all over their body. This pattern helps scientists easily tell them apart from other worm lizards. We don't know a lot about their daily lives because they live hidden underground.
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Where Does It Live?
The speckled worm lizard lives in northern South America. You can find it on the island of Trinidad. It also lives further south in Brazil, especially in areas like Minas Gerais and Goiás.
What Does It Look Like?
This lizard can grow to be about 30 to 45 centimeters long. That's about the length of a school ruler and a half! This measurement includes both its body and its tail.
Where Does It Hide?
The speckled worm lizard likes to live in the Amazon rainforest. It prefers areas with lots of trees and plants.
How Does It Live and What Does It Eat?
This lizard is a night animal. It spends most of its time burrowing underground. It uses its strong jaws to find and catch its food. The speckled worm lizard eats any small invertebrate or insect it can find. This includes beetles, ants, termites, and other arthropods. Arthropods are creatures like spiders, centipedes, and millipedes. They also eat earthworms. Sometimes, they might even eat small vertebrates.
How Does It Reproduce?
The speckled worm lizard is an oviparous species. This means that the female lays eggs.
How Do People See Them?
In the stories of the Yanomami people, a group living in South America, worm lizards are very special. They believe these lizards come from the bones of brave warriors. They also think these lizards have a connection to the spirit world. If a worm lizard appears in a village, people often ask it questions. They might ask, "Who are you? Where do you come from?" If the lizard makes a high-pitched sound, it means it has good intentions. If it stays quiet, it might mean it has less friendly intentions.
See also
In Spanish: Lagarto gusano moteado para niños
