PBDB Taxon

Basic info	Taxonomic history	Classification	Included Taxa
Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Amphisbaenia (worm lizard)

Reptilia

Taxonomy

Amphisbaenia was named by Gray (1844). It is extant. It was considered monophyletic by Lee and Caldwell (2000) and Kearney (2003).

It was reranked as the superfamily Amphisbaenia by Kuhn (1946); it was reranked as the suborder Amphisbaenia by Kuhn (1966), Frank and Ramus (1996) and Böhme (2010); it was reranked as the order Amphisbaenia by Estes (1983); it was reranked as the unranked clade Amphisbaenia by Kearney (2003), Head (2005), Augé and Rage (2006), Pyron et al. (2013) and Cernansky et al. (2015).

It was assigned to Reptilia by Gray (1844); to Lacertilia by Kuhn (1946); to Lacertilia by Seiffert (1975); to Squamata by Estes (1983); to Scleroglossa by Estes et al. (1988) and Lee and Caldwell (2000); to Lacertilia by Augé and Rage (2006); to Scincomorpha by Smith (2006); to Lacertoidea by Pyron et al. (2013); and to Squamata by Kuhn (1966), Benton (1985), Frank and Ramus (1996), Gao and Hou (1996), Gao and Nessov (1998), Kearney (2003), Head (2005), Böhme (2010), Cernansky et al. (2015), Stocker and Kirk (2016) and Georgalis et al. (2016).

Subtaxa

Amphisbaeniformes, Amphisbaenoidea, Chthonophidae, Crythiosauridae, Hodzhakulia, Hyporhinidae, Oligodontosauridae, Polyodontobaenidae, Rhineuroidea

Synonyms

Annulata was named as an infraorder.

It was synonymized subjectively with Ophiosauri by Cope (1871); it was reranked as the suborder Annulati by Quenstedt (1882); it was synonymized subjectively with Amphisbaenia by Kuhn (1966); it was synonymized subjectively with Amphisbaenia by Seiffert (1975).

It was assigned to Sauri by Quenstedt (1882); and to Lacertilia by Carroll (1988).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1844	Amphisbaenia Gray
1882	Annulati Quenstedt p. 155
1946	Amphisbaenia Kuhn p. 61
1966	Amphisbaenia Kuhn p. 68
1975	Amphisbaenia Seiffert p. 10
1983	Amphisbaenia Estes
1985	Amphisbaenia Benton p. 157
1988	Annulata Carroll
1988	Amphisbaenia Estes et al.
1996	Amphisbaenia Frank and Ramus
1996	Amphisbaenia Gao and Hou p. 590
1998	Amphisbaenia Gao and Nessov
2000	Amphisbaenia Lee and Caldwell
2003	Amphisbaenia Kearney
2005	Amphisbaenia Head
2006	Amphisbaenia Augé and Rage p. 239
2006	Amphisbaenia Smith p. 5
2010	Amphisbaenia Böhme p. 26
2013	Amphisbaenia Pyron et al.
2015	Amphisbaenia Cernansky et al. p. 104
2016	Amphisbaenia Georgalis et al.
2016	Amphisbaenia Stocker and Kirk

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()

Rank	Name	Author
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
—	Sauropsida
class	Reptilia
—	Squamata	()
infraorder	Amphisbaenia	Gray 1844
infraorder	Amphisbaenia	Gray 1844

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Infraor. Amphisbaenia Gray 1844 [worm lizard]

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Unr. Amphisbaeniformes Longrich et al. 2015

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Unr. Amphisbaenidae Gray 1865 [worm lizard]

G. Amphisbaena Linnaeus 1758

Amphisbaena alba Linneaus 1758 [Red worm lizard]

†Amphisbaena braestrupi Gans and Montero 1998

Amphisbaena caeca Cuvier 1829 [Blind worm lizard]

Amphisbaena cubana Gundlach and Peters 1878 [Cuban worm lizard]

Amphisbaena darwini Dumeril and Bibron 1839 [Darwin's ringed worm lizard]

Amphisbaena fenestrata Cope 1861 [Cope's worm lizard]

Amphisbaena fuliginosa Linneaus 1758 [Speckled worm lizard]

Amphisbaena gonavensis Gans and Alexander 1962 [Gonave worm lizard]

Amphisbaena innocens Weinland 1862 [Innocent worm lizard]

†Amphisbaena laurenti Gans and Montero 1998

Amphisbaena vermicularis Wagler 1824 [Wagler's worm lizard]

G. Ancyclocranium Parker 1942 [Sharp-snouted worm lizards]

G. Anops Bell 1833 [King's worm lizards]

G. Baikia Gray 1865 [West African worm lizards]

G. Blanus Wagler 1830

Blanus cinereus Vandelli 1797 [Mediterranean worm lizard]

†Blanus gracilis Roček 1984

†Blanus mendezi Bolet et al. 2014

Blanus strauchi Bedriaga 1884 [Turkish worm lizard]

†Blanus thomaskelleri Cernansky et al. 2015

Invalid names: Omoiotyphlops de Rochebrune 1884 [synonym]

G. Bronia Gray 1865 [Brazilian worm lizards]

G. †Campinosaurus Auge 1992

†Campinosaurus woutersi Auge 1992

G. †Listromycter Charig and Gans 1990

†Listromycter leakeyi Charig and Gans 1990

G. †Lophocranion Charig and Gans 1990

†Lophocranion rusingense Charig and Gans 1990

Invalid names: Rhineurinae Vanzolini 1951 [empty]

Fm. Bipedidae Taylor 1951

G. †Anniealexandria Smith 2009

†Anniealexandria gansi Smith 2009

G. Bipes Bonnaterre 1789 [Two-legged worm lizards]

Bipes biporus Cope 1894 [Five-toed worm lizard]

Bipes canaliculatus Bonnaterre 1789 [Four-toed worm lizard]

Bipes tridactylus Duges 1894 [Three-toed worm lizard]

Fm. Blanidae Kearney 2003

G. †Blanosaurus Folie et al. 2013

†Blanosaurus primeocaenus Folie et al. 2013

G. †Cuvieribaena Cernansky et al. 2015

†Cuvieribaena carlgansi Cernansky et al. 2015

G. †Louisamphisbaena Auge 2012

†Louisamphisbaena ferox Auge 2012

G. †Todrasaurus Augé and Rage 2006

†Todrasaurus gheerbranti Augé and Rage 2006

Unr. Trogonophidae Bonaparte 1838

G. †Palaeoblanus Schleich 1988

†Palaeoblanus tobieni Schleich 1988

G. †Terastiodontosaurus Georgalis et al. 2024

†Terastiodontosaurus marcelosanchezi Georgalis et al. 2024

G. Trogonophis Kaup 1830

†Trogonophis darelbeidae Bailon 2000

Trogonophis wiegmanni Kaup 1830 [Checkerboard worm lizard]

Invalid names: Cadeidae Vidal and Hedges 2007 [empty]

Unr. †Chthonophidae Longrich et al. 2015

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G. †Chthonophis Longrich et al. 2015

†Chthonophis subterraneus Longrich et al. 2015

Fm. †Crythiosauridae Vanzolini 1951

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G. †Crythiosaurus Gilmore 1943

†Crythiosaurus mongoliensis Gilmore 1943

G. †Platyrhachis Cope 1873

G. †Hodzhakulia Nessov 1985

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†Hodzhakulia magna Nessov 1985

Fm. †Hyporhinidae Baur 1893

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G. Hyporhina Baur 1893

†Hyporhina antiqua Baur 1893

Invalid names: Hyporhina galbreathi Taylor 1951 [synonym]

†Hyporhina tertia Berman 1972

Fm. †Oligodontosauridae Estes 1975

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G. †Oligodontosaurus Gilmore 1942

†Oligodontosaurus wyomingensis Gilmore 1942

Fm. †Polyodontobaenidae Folie et al. 2013

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G. †Camptognathosaurus Folie et al. 2013

†Camptognathosaurus walbeckensis Kuhn 1940

Invalid names: Camptognathosaurus parisiensis Folie et al. 2013 [synonym]

G. †Polyodontobaena Folie et al. 2013

†Polyodontobaena belgica Folie et al. 2013

Unr. Rhineuroidea Kearney 2003

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G. Aulura Barbour 1914 [Barbour's worm lizards]

Fm. Rhineuridae Vanzolini 1951

G. †Archaerhineura Longrich et al. 2015

†Archaerhineura mephitis Longrich et al. 2015

G. †Dyticonastis Berman 1976

†Dyticonastis rensbergeri Berman 1976

G. †Hadrorhineura Hembree 2007

G. †Jepsibaena Vanzolini 1951

†Jepsibaena minor Gilmore and Jepsen 1945

G. †Lestophis Marsh 1885

†Lestophis anceps Marsh 1871

†Lestophis crassus Marsh 1871

Invalid names: Limnophis Marsh 1871 [replaced]

G. †Macrorhineura Macdonald 1970

†Macrorhineura skinneri Macdonald 1970

G. †Oligorhineura Dickson 1997

†Oligorhineura sternbergii Dickson 1997

G. †Ototriton Loomis 1919

†Ototriton solidus Loomis 1919

G. †Plesiorhineura Sullivan 1985

†Plesiorhineura tsentasi Sullivan 1985

G. †Protorhineura Hembree 2007

G. Rhineura Cope 1861 [worm lizard]

Rhineura floridana Baird 1858 [North American worm lizard]

†Rhineura hatcherii Baur 1893

Invalid names: Rhineura amblyceps Taylor 1951 [synonym], Rhineura attenuatus Taylor 1951 [synonym], Rhineura coloradoensis Cope 1873 [synonym], Rhineura hibbardi Taylor 1951 [synonym], Rhineura minutus Gilmore 1938 [synonym], Rhineura sternbergii Walker 1932 [synonym], Rhineura wilsoni Taylor 1951 [synonym]

†Rhineura marslandensis Yatkola 1976

†Rhineura sepultura Holman 1979

Invalid names: Gilmoreia Taylor 1951 [synonym], Pseudorhineura Vanzolini 1951 [synonym]

G. †Solastella Stocker and Kirk 2016

†Solastella cookei Stocker and Kirk 2016

G. †Spathorhynchus Berman 1973

†Spathorhynchus fossorium Berman 1973

†Spathorhynchus natronicus Berman 1977

Invalid names: Amphisbaenoidea Gray 1865 [empty], Annulati [synonym]

Diagnosis

Reference	Diagnosis
M. Kearney 2003	"Enlarged, median premaxillary tooth; enlarged, azygous orbitosphenoid plate; scales arranged in annular ringsl extensive palatine-ectopterygoid contact closing suborbital fenestra; absence of epipterygoidl and a unique extracolumellar system. (pgs. 47-48)"

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

terrestrialinfrao

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Life habit:

fossorialinfrao

Diet:

insectivoreinfrao

Created:

2005-09-16 14:12:18

Modified:

2005-09-16 16:12:18

Source: infrao = infraorder, c = class, subp = subphylum

References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Pianka and Vitt 2003

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Aptian to the top of the Holocene or 122.46000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 109.0 Ma

Collections (189 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Late/Upper Aptian - Early/Lower Albian	122.46 - 109.0	Mongolia (Övörkhangai Aymag)	Hodzhaculia sp. (77191)
Early/Lower Cenomanian	99.6 - 93.5	Uzbekistan (Navoi)	Hodzhakulia magna (58208)
Late/Upper Campanian	83.5 - 70.6	Spain (Castilla y Leon)	Amphisbaenia indet. (28406)
Middle Campanian - Late/Upper Campanian	83.5 - 70.6	Mongolia (Omnogov)	Amphisbaenidae indet. (181538)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian	70.6 - 66.0	France (Haute-Garonne)	Amphisbaenia indet. (67194)
Puercan	66.0 - 63.3	USA (Montana)	Chthonophis subterraneus (14671)
Danian	66.0 - 61.6	Belgium (Hainaut)	Amphisbaenidae indet., Polyodontobaena belgica (132949)
Torrejonian	63.8 - 60.9	USA (New Mexico)	Plesiorhineura tsentasi (14893 34495)
Torrejonian	63.8 - 60.9	USA (Montana)	Oligodontosaurus sp. (14874)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (Wyoming)	Oligodontosaurus wyomingensis (15049) Rhineuridae indet. (15029)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (North Dakota)	Amphisbaenidae indet. (15000)
Selandian	61.6 - 59.2	Germany (Saxony-Anhalt)	Glyptosaurus walbeckensis (74643)
Thanetian	59.2 - 56.0	Morocco (Meknès-Tafilalet)	Amphisbaenia indet., Todrasaurus gheerbranti (88301)
Thanetian	59.2 - 56.0	France (Champagne-Ardenne)	Amphisbaenidae indet., Camptognathosaurus parisiensis (87925) Camptognathosaurus parisiensis (137125)
Late/Upper Paleocene	58.7 - 55.8	France (Oise)	Camptognathosaurus parisiensis (166598)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	France (Marne)	Amphisbaenidae indet. (35535) Amphisbaenidae indet., Anniealexandria sp. (35533)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Belgium (Brabant)	Amphisbaenidae indet., Blanosaurus primeocaenus, Campinosaurus woutersi (35531)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Morocco	Amphisbaenia indet. (133216)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Spain (Lleida)	Amphisbaenia indet. (142031)
Ypresian - Lutetian	56.0 - 41.3	France (Languedoc-Roussillon Region)	Amphisbaenia indet. (31717)