- Mexican mole lizard
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Mexican mole worm 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Amphisbaenia Family: Bipedidae Genus: Bipes Species: B. biporus Binomial name Bipes biporus
(Cope, 1894)The Mexican mole lizard, five-toed worm lizard, Ajolote or Ajolote lizard (Bipes biporus), is one of four amphisbaenians that have legs. They are pink 6–9-inch (15–23 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.
Contents
Breeding
This species is oviparous and the females lay one to four eggs in July. The species only breeds underground. The eggs hatch after two months.
Location
The Mexican mole lizard lives in Baja California, Mexico. Like all other amphisbaenians this is a burrowing species that only surfaces at night or after heavy rain.
Diet
It is an opportunist carnivore and eats ants, termites, ground dwelling insects, larvae, earthworms, and small animals including lizards. It usually pulls its prey down to the ground to start its meal.
Size
Length about 17–24 centimetres (6.7–9.4 in), width 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in).
References
- Smithsonian Institution
- Bipes biporus at the Reptile Database
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
Categories:- Amphisbaenians
- Reptiles of Mexico
- Fauna of Northern Mexico
- Reptile stubs
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