Rhineuridae

Rhineuridae Temporal range: Paleocene to Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Amphisbaenia
Family:	Rhineuridae Vanzolini, 1951
Genus:	Rhineura Cope, 1861
Species:	R. floridana
Binomial name
Rhineura floridana Baird, 1859

Common names: North American worm lizard,^[1] Florida worm lizard,^[2] thunderworm.

The Rhineuridae are a monotypic family^[1] of worm lizards containing the monotypic genus, Rhineura,^[3] which contains the species R. floridana. This species is found only in Florida no further north than the panhandle. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[2] The family has a fossil record stretching back 60 million years to the Paleocene, and once had a number of species distributed across the western United States^[4].

Description

This species varies in length from 18–30 cm (7–12 inches). They may or may not have limbs and have external eyes and ears. They are burrowers, preferring a soil sand or leaf mold substrate, and spending most of their time underground where they are safe from predators. They surface only when plowing or heavy rain forces them to evacuate their burrows. Because of the latter they are sometimes called thunderworms. When disturbed, they retreat into their burrows tail-first. The diet includes insects and earthworms. but they are opportunistic feeders and will eat almost any invertebrate small enough to catch. Reproduction is by laying eggs (oviparous).

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).^[5] Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Rhineuridae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=564535. Retrieved 19 August 2007. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Rhineura floridana". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209635. Retrieved 19 August 2007. 
3. ^ "Rhineura". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209634. Retrieved 19 August 2007. 
4. ^ Gans, Carl (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 216. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 
5. ^ Rhineura floridana at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 September 2008.
6. ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 September 2008.