Trogonophidae

The pointed tooth - amphisbaenians ( Trogonophidae ) are a family of Squamata ( Squamata ). There are legless lizards that occur in the north-western Africa, in Somalia, the Arabian Peninsula and the island of Socotra.

Features

The animals are eight to 24 inches long. They are often dyed striking example white with black spots. Of all other amphisbaenians they are distinguished by their triangular in cross-section body. Another difference concerns the type of tooth attachment. While all other amphisbaenians have pleurodonte teeth, meaning they sit rootless at the inner edge of the jaw, the teeth of the pointed tooth - amphisbaenians sit on the top of the jaw ( acrodonte tooth attachment ). Their snout is flattened and used for digging. Here, the short, pointed tail is used as an abutment. It can not be dropped.

Way of life

Pointed tooth - amphisbaenians living digging in sandy soil. Their reproductive biology is largely unknown. They are, with the exception of viviparous ( live-bearing ) type Trogonophis wiegmanni, oviparous ( egg- laying ).

Genera and species

There are about four genera with six species.

• Agamodon Peters, 1882 Agamodon anguliceps Peters, 1882
• Agamodon arabicus Anderson, 1901
• Agamodon compressus Mocquard, 1888

• Diplometopon zarudnyi Nikolskii, 1907

• Pachycalamus brevis Günther, 1881

• Checkerboard amphisbaenian ( Trogonophis wiegmanni ) Kaup, 1830