BIPES BIPORUS PDF

Assessor(s): Hollingsworth, B. & Frost, D.R.. Reviewer(s): Cox, N., Chanson, J.S. & Stuart, S.N. (Global Reptile Assessment Coordinating Team). Justification. Digital Morphology account of the Baja worm lizard, Bipes biporus, featuring CT- generated animations of the skull. The worm lizard Bipes biporus is an amphisbaenian, a type of elongate burrowing reptile that is often pink and wormlike in appearance. Bipes is the only .

It is commonly found in Baja California. Glossary Nearctic living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. Wever and Gans, Other Communication Modes vibrations Perception Channels tactile acoustic vibrations Food Habits Bipes biporus can be described as an bips carnivore. Despite their low reproductive potential, Mexican Mole Lizards are considered a relatively stable species, with no immediate concern of endangerment or extinction. The Mexican mole lizard B.

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Mexican mole lizard

Accessed December 19, at https: While this process has been found to be energetically expensive in snakes, Bipes may use it more economically, because they seem to move entirely using aerobic respiration. A captive specimen, captured as an adult, lived for 3 years and 3 months.

This species is oviparous and the females lay one to four eggs in July. Like all other amphisbaenians, this burrowing species only surfaces at night or after heavy rain. The distribution of Bipes biporus bjporus the type of environment it inhabits. Kearney, ; Papenfuss, Primary Diet carnivore ibporus eggs insectivore eats non-insect arthropods vermivore Animal Foods eggs insects terrestrial non-insect arthropods terrestrial worms Predation Due to its burrowing lifestyle, B. In other projects Wikimedia Commons.

Due to its secretive lifestyle, there has been little research done on the average lifespan of B. ADW doesn’t cover all species in the world, nor does it include all bipofus latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Although recent gene phylogenies seem to do so, they also differ radically from any phylogeny based on the phenotype, hiporus for the most ancient crown squamate divergences that occurred during the latter half of the Mesozoic.

Grismer, ; Papenfuss, Biogeographic Regions nearctic native neotropical native Habitat The distribution of Bipes biporus reflects the type of environment it inhabits.

Accessed December 17, at http: They are considered generalist predators because they will seize anything of suitable size that they contact. Papenfuss also found that, on average, larger females tended to lay more eggs than smaller females. These data enabled us to infer a tree much like those derived from previous morphological analyses, but with better support for some key clades.

In contrast to the middle ear structure of most amphisbaenians, the stapes and cartilaginous extracolumella of Bipes biporus are connected by fibrous tissue to a deep fold on the skin of the neck, apparently making B. Journal of Herpetology Juveniles are mainly pink in color, turning white as they mature.

It is one of four species of amphisbaenians that have legs. Jens Vindum of the California Academy of Sciences.

Typically, Mexican Mole Lizards spend the cooler morning hours near the surface of the ground, and as the temperature of the surroundings rise throughout the day, they bieps deeper into the soil. The forelegs are strong and paddle-like, while the hindlegs have disappeared, leaving behind only vestigial bones visible in X-rays. Their range extends throughout the southern half of the Baja California peninsula, west of the Peninsula Ranges.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

However, Papenfuss bippes, found B. Funding by NSF Comments. Retrieved from ” https: Carnivorous lizards especially snakes, mosasaurs and varanoids have proven a close second. Nocturnal mammals, such as badgers and skunks, that often prey on burrowing animals may be unable to find and dig up B.

Views Read Edit View history. Grismer, ; Papenfuss, Other Physical Features ectothermic bilateral symmetry Sexual Dimorphism sexes alike Range length high mm 9.

The most likely predators of Mexican Mole Lizards are snakes; snakes are easily able to bipea the burrow systems constructed by Bipes. Bipes biporus can be identified by its small, ossified head, a cylindrical body covered with scales in a pattern of vertical rings annuliand two preanal pores.

However, this unique ear structure may be important for locating prey above the surface. Females reach sexual bipours at about 45 months of age. This structure is likely most effective at intercepting air-borne sounds.

Accessed December 18, at http: The eggs hatch after two months. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain.

Bipes biporus | The Reptile Database

The climate is seasonably cool in these areas. Jessie Maisano Publication Date: In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil.

Breeding season Mid-summer Range number of offspring 1 to 4 Average number of offspring 2 Average gestation period 2 months Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity female 45 months No data has been collected regarding the extent, if bipez, of parental care performed by Bipes biporus.

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