Striated Worm-lizard

About the Striated Worm-lizard

The striated worm-lizard (Aprasia striolata) is a species of legless lizard in the family Pygopodidae. It is endemic to southern Australia (southern Western Australia, South Australia, and western Victoria). Commonly known as Striated worm-lizard but has also been referred to as the Striped or Lined worm-lizard due to its pattern of long, thin parallel streaks. Some populations such as those in WA and Kangaroo Island may have absent stripes or the lines present as lines of dots.

In 1994, Webb and Shine dissected 615 preserved pygopodid museum specimens to study their life-history. Most of this information is collected from that study where they noted that there were fewer females than males in the museum collections.

The Pygopodidae family of legless lizards is characterised by extreme body elongation and reduced limbs or complete lack of limbs which makes them appear snake-like. The Aprasia genus is morphologically diverse but comprises the small worm-like burrowers. Several of their morphological and trophic features make them similar to sympatric Typholopidae (blind snakes).

In 1863 a specimen collected by Möller was presented to Danish zoologist... Wikipedia →