A monotypic, eyeless genus from North Africa, characterised by scales arranged in annuli and a short (up to 16mm) and conical tail. Although in nature it consumes mainly ants and termites, Kästle, Schleich and Kabisch note that in captivity it accepts mealworms and chopped meat and will drink water from a dish. It may also expose its back to a heat lamp in the vivarium.
The common name would appear to derive from the pattern of sparse but regularly spaced darker square scales on the overall lighter background.
| Species | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Trogonophis | ||||
| T. wiegmanni | Checkerboard Worm Lizard | Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia | 6-10" | Prefers moist soil: found among other places under stones and rocks or in the soil of N African forests or sand patches near beaches. In June it retires to deep burrows for the dry season but does not aestivate. Hibernation takes place December-January. The two subspecies live in different habitats and climatic zones, such that Kästle et al believe that speciation is in progress. Scalation: large pentagonal rostral; 2 pairs of large cephalic plates; 2 almost square frontals followed by 2 triangular postfrontals; loreal usually separated from small ocular, which is surrounded by 5-8 plates; 4-5 supralabials of which 3rd is largest; large pentagonal mental; 3-4 infralabials, of which 2nd is largest; postmental triangular, 2 pairs inframaxillaries. Coloration: see subspecies listing. Reproduction: mating takes place in June. At the end of September 2-5 large neonates are born. |
| T. w. wiegmanni | Coloration: yellowish to lemon yellow, with dark spots extending over several scales, dorsally sometimes dark with a fine yellow reticulation, ventrally white. | |||
| T. w. elegans | Coloration: mauve-white, light grey or pink. Dorsally pinkish-brown (adults), pink or mauve (juveniles). | |||
Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa, W Kästle, H H Schleich and K Kabisch, Koeltz Scientific Books, Germany 1996. Outstanding review of N African herpetofauna giving detailed account of each species.
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