Mitchell's worm lizard

Mitchell's worm lizard (Amphisbaena mitchelli) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Common names

Common names for Amphisbaena mitchelli in Brazilian Portuguese include cobra-de-duas-cabeças (two-headed snake) and cobra-cega (blind snake).

Etymology

The specific name, mitchelli, is in honor of British zoologist Peter Chalmers Mitchell.

Description

Amphisbaena mitchelli is medium-sized for its genus. It is darker dorsally than it is ventrally. It has 211–220 body annuli, and two oval precoacal pores.

Geographic range

Amphisbaena mitchelli is found in Brazil, in the states of Maranhão and Pará.

Reproduction

Amphisbaena mitchelli is oviparous.

References

Further reading

• Gans, Carl (1963). "Notes on Amphisbaenids (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia). 7. Redescription and Redefinition of Amphisbaena mitchelli Procter and Amphisbaena sleveni Schmidt from the Middle and Lower Amazon, Brazil". American Museum Novitates (2127): 1–22.
• (Amphisbaena mitchelli, p. 17).
• (in English and Spanish).
• Procter, Joan B. (1923). "On New and Rare Reptiles from South America". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1923: 1061–1067. (Amphisbæna mitchelli, new species, p. 1065).