Amphisbaena xera explained

Amphisbaena xera, known commonly as the dry worm lizard, Puerto Rican dryland worm lizard, or the North American worm lizard, is a worm lizard species. It is endemic to Puerto Rico.

Etymology

The specific name, xera, which is from Greek via Late Latin, means "dry".^[1]

Geographic range

It is found in Puerto Rico, both on the main island and also on the offshore Isla de Caja de Muertos.

See also

• Fauna of Puerto Rico
• List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico

Further reading

• Schwartz, A., and R. Thomas. 1975. A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Amphisbaena xera, p. 69.)
• Thomas, R. 1966. Additional Notes on the Amphisbaenids of Greater Puerto Rico. Breviora (249): 1-23. ("Amphisbaena xera new species",
  pp. 7–13, Figure 3.)

Notes and References

1. Mish, F.C., Editor in Chief. 2004. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam Webster, Incorporated. 39a + 1622 pp. . ("xer- or xero- comb form, p. 1449.)