Added 5 January 2025.

Ophiodes: Worm Lizards

Diploglossids

Introduction

A South American genus. The common name “worm lizards” does not imply any link with the Amphisbaenidae (true worm-lizards), but simply derives from their reduced limb structure.

Boulenger gave the characteristics of the genus as follows: no lateral fold. Scales roundish-rhomboidal, arranged quincuncially on the hack, forming vertical series on the sides. No forelimbs; styliform rudiments of hind limbs. Teeth conical. Palate toothless.

I have never seen any of these species in the herpetocultural hobby.

	QUICK INDEX
O. enso	O. fragilis, Fragile Worm Lizard	O. intermedius
O. luciae, Lucy's Worm Lizard	O. striatus, Striped Worm Lizard	O. vertebralis, Jointed Worm Lizard

Scientific Name	Common Name	Distribution	Size	Notes
Ophiodes
O. enso		Brazil
O. fragilis	Fragile Worm Lizard	Brazil, Argentina, poss. Paraguay		See Reptile Database entry for discussion of distribution.
O. intermedius		Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina
O. luciae	Lucy's Worm Lizard	Paraguay
O. striatus	Striped Worm Lizard	Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay	TL 45 cm; SVL 18.5 cm	Description: a large azygos prefrontal (abnormally divided), separated from the rostral by two pairs of shields; frontal large, much longer than broad; interparietal as broad as, or slightly broader than the parietals, longer than the occipital; nasal in contact with the rostral; three or four enlarged shields on each side behind the postmental, only the first or the first two in contact with the lower labials. Ear-opening almost or quite hidden. Scales smooth, the dorsals finely striated; twenty-five or twenty-seven round the middle of the body. Rudimentary hind limbs styliform. Tail about once and a half the length of the body. Coloration: brownish or olive-grey above, with a variable, but even, number of dark brown longitudinal lines; upper lip and temple with alternate dark brown and whitish vertical bars. A larger specimen, with reproduced tail, measures 230 millim. from snout to vent. [SOURCE: Boulenger]
O. vertebralis	Jointed Worm Lizard	Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina		Description: very closely allied to O. striatus, from which it differs as follows: frontal considerably broader than parietals; 3 large chin-shields on each side in contact with the sublabials; 29 or 31 scales around the middle of the body. Coloration: no vertical dark bars on the sides of the head; narrow dark vertebral line; a broad and narrow brown streak on each side, separated by a yellowish one. [SOURCE: Boulenger]

Bibliography