Rhineura floridana (BAIRD, 1858)
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Rhineura floridana?
Rhineura floridana
We have no photos, try to find some by Google images search: 
| Higher Taxa | Rhineuridae, Amphisbaenia, Lacertoidea, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Florida Worm Lizard |
| Synonym | Lepidosternon floridanum BAIRD 1858: 255 Rhineura floridana— COPE 1861: 75 Lepidosternon floridanum— GARMAN 1883 Rhineura floridana— GARMAN 1883 Rhineura floridana — CONANT & COLLINS 1991: 142 Rhineura floridana — CROTHER 2000 Rhineura floridana — GANS 2005: 41 |
| Distribution | USA (Florida, Georgia [HR 27: 153]) Type locality: ‘‘Micanopy, Florida’’. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: USNM 3203. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (family Rhineuridae). Small medial nasal process of premaxilla that does not separate the nasals in superficial view, a squared-off anterior edge of the snout, external naris opens ventrally, pterygoid-vomer contact, high maxillary tooth count, low premaxillary tooth count, dentary process of coronoid overlapping dentary, and absence of posterodorsal rib processes. Not all of these features can be ascertained in all the fossil taxa in this group. (Kearney 2003: 50) Description: 118-28 cm; max. 140.6 cm. Very similar to the common earthworm, both in coloration and gross appearance. Body looks segmented, like the earthworm's, but this reptile has scales and a well-defined, lizardlike head, even though both ends of the animal look superficially alike. Lower jaw countersunk into upper, facilitating burrowing. There are no limbs, no ear openings, and most specimens lack external eyes linternally there are remnants of eyes). Upper surface of the very short tail is flattened and covered with numerous small bumps Itubercles), forming an effective stopper for the tunnels this reptile makes as it burrows through sand or soil. Young: About 10 cm at hatching (modified after Conant & Collins 1991: 142). Original description (genus): “A broad crescentic rostral plate immediately posterior to this on the median line are an oblong frontal, broader than long, and a large irregularly pentagonal vertical, with its posterior angle prolonged between two small occipitals; three small plates on each side of the vertical. Four superior labials on each side--the last three times the size of the third. The first separated from that of the other side by a trapezoid inferior rostral, and bounded above by a transversely elliptical nasal, which is pierced by the nostral above its centre. Three loreal plates in a series behind the nasal and above the labials-the first much the longest. Superior maxillary teeth five on each side; the anterior pair longest; inter-maxillary one ; mandibular, each ramus, six. Inferior labials three or four; one symphyseal, one pair genials, one mento-labial on each side. Sternal plates small, irregular, about twelve in number. Vent very crescentic; three pairs of preanal plates in a longitudinal series. Fourteen rings upon the tail, all more or less tuberculous superiorly except the two basal ones. Color dirty white; upper surface of the head yellowish.” (Cope 1861) |
| Comment | Sometimes this species is put in a separate family, Rhineuridae. Type Species: Lepidosternon floridanum is the type species of the genus Rhineura Cope, 1861. |
| Etymology | Named after the type locality. |
| References |
|
| External links |