Trogonophidae
Encyclopedia
Trogonophidae, is a small family of amphisbaenians, containing five species in four genera
. Trogonophids are found in North Africa
, the Horn of Africa
, the Arabian Peninsula
, and western Iran
. They are limbless, carnivorous, lizard-like reptiles highly modified for burrowing. They construct their tunnels with an oscillating motion that forces soil into the walls. Unlike other amphisbaenians, their teeth are fused to their jaws, rather than lying in a groove.
Genera
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. Trogonophids are found in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
, the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, and western Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. They are limbless, carnivorous, lizard-like reptiles highly modified for burrowing. They construct their tunnels with an oscillating motion that forces soil into the walls. Unlike other amphisbaenians, their teeth are fused to their jaws, rather than lying in a groove.
Genera
- AgamodonAgamodonAgamodon is a small genus of worm lizards in the Trogonophidae family.It contains the following two species:*Agamodon anguliceps*Agamodon arabicus...
- Peters, 1882 (2 species) - DiplometoponDiplometoponDiplometopon zarudnyi, also called Zarudny's worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian reptile in the Trogonophidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Diplometopon. This species is found on the Arabian peninsula....
Nikolskii, 1907 (monotypicMonotypicIn biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
) - PachycalamusPachycalamusThe short worm lizard is a species of reptile in the Trogonophidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pachycalamus. It is found on the island of Socotra.-External links:* * -Further reading:...
Günther, 1881 (monotypic) - Trogonophis Kaup, 1830 (monotypic)