Mexican Mole Lizard
Encyclopedia
The Mexican mole lizard, five-toed worm lizard, Ajolote or Ajolote lizard (Bipes biporus), is one of four amphisbaenia
ns that have legs. They are pink 6–9 in (15.2–22.9 cm) lizard-like reptiles that live for 1 to 2 years and eat ground dwelling insects and earthworms. Their skin is closely segmented to give a corrugated appearance and like earthworms their underground movement is by peristalsis
of the segments. The forelegs are strong and paddle-like while the backlegs have disappeared and are visible only as vestigial bones in X-rays.
and the females lay one to four eggs
in July. The species only breeds underground. The eggs hatch after two months.
, Mexico
. Like all other amphisbaenians this is a burrowing
species that only surfaces at night or after heavy rain.
s, larvae, earthworm
s, and small animals including lizard
s. It usually pulls its prey down to the ground to start its meal.
Amphisbaenia
The Amphisbaenia are a usually legless suborder of squamates closely related to lizards and snakes. As many species possess a pink body coloration and scales arranged in rings, they have a superficial resemblance to earthworms. They are very poorly understood, due to their burrowing lifestyle...
ns that have legs. They are pink 6–9 in (15.2–22.9 cm) lizard-like reptiles that live for 1 to 2 years and eat ground dwelling insects and earthworms. Their skin is closely segmented to give a corrugated appearance and like earthworms their underground movement is by peristalsis
Peristalsis
Peristalsis is a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles which propagates in a wave down the muscular tube, in an anterograde fashion. In humans, peristalsis is found in the contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract. Earthworms use a similar...
of the segments. The forelegs are strong and paddle-like while the backlegs have disappeared and are visible only as vestigial bones in X-rays.
Breeding
This species is oviparousOviparity
Oviparous animals are animals that lay eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, reptiles, all birds, the monotremes, and most insects, some molluscs and arachnids....
and the females lay one to four eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
in July. The species only breeds underground. The eggs hatch after two months.
Location
The Mexican mole lizard lives in Baja CaliforniaBaja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Like all other amphisbaenians this is a burrowing
Fossorial
A fossorial organism is one that is adapted to digging and life underground such as the badger, the naked mole rat, and the mole salamanders Ambystomatidae...
species that only surfaces at night or after heavy rain.
Diet
It is an opportunist carnivore and eats ants, termites, ground dwelling insectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, larvae, earthworm
Earthworm
Earthworm is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, even though the internal male segments are anterior to the female...
s, and small animals including lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s. It usually pulls its prey down to the ground to start its meal.
External links
- http://animals.jrank.org/pages/3700/Mole-Limbed-Wormlizards-Bipedidae-TWO-LEGGED-WORMLIZARD-Bipes-biporus-SPECIES-ACCOUNT.html
- http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/path/Bipes_biporus.html#Bipes%20biporus
- http://www.bluechameleon.org/Photo%20&%20Image%20Stockpile%20-%20BCV/WEB%20-%20Bipes%20biporus.htm
- http://mexico-herps.com/Baja/Bipes_biporus.jpg