Zarudny's worm lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zarudny's worm lizard |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Trogonophidae |
| Genus: | Diplometopon Nikolsky, 1907 |
| Species: |
D. zarudnyi
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| Binomial name | |
| Diplometopon zarudnyi Nikolsky, 1907
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| Synonyms | |
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The Zarudny's worm lizard (Diplometopon zarudnyi) is a special kind of reptile. It's called a "worm lizard" because it looks a bit like a giant worm, but it's actually a lizard! This animal is the only species in its group, called Diplometopon. It lives in the Middle East. The name zarudnyi was given to honor a Russian zoologist named Nikolai Zarudny.
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Where Zarudny's Worm Lizard Lives
This unique lizard can be found in several countries. It lives in western Iran and southern Iraq. You can also find it on the Arabian peninsula. This includes countries like Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, northern Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
What Kind of Home It Likes
Zarudny's worm lizard prefers certain types of places to live. Its favorite homes are desert areas. It also likes grasslands and shrublands. These lizards can live from sea level up to about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) high.
What Zarudny's Worm Lizard Looks Like
This worm lizard usually grows to be about 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. That's about the length of a school ruler! It doesn't have any legs. Instead, it moves by wiggling its body, much like a snake. Its eyes are very small, so it can't see very well.
How It Behaves
Zarudny's worm lizard spends most of its time on the ground. It is also a great burrower. It digs tunnels in sand or loose soil. This helps it find food and stay safe from predators.
What Zarudny's Worm Lizard Eats
This lizard enjoys a diet of insects. It mainly eats beetle larvae and adult beetles. It also munches on other small invertebrates it finds underground.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Zarudny's worm lizard reproduces by laying eggs. This means it is an egg-laying animal.
Conservation Status
Good news! The Zarudny's worm lizard is not in danger. It is classified as "Least Concern" (LC) on the IUCN Red List. This means there are plenty of them in the wild.
 | Leon Lynch |
 | Milton P. Webster |
 | Ferdinand Smith |
