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 #1604668


Gecodude
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 Question

wut is the smallest kind of legless lizard?
02/01/08  03:50pm

 #1611250


Gottee guy
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   Message To: Gecodude   In reference to Message Id: 1604668


 Question

im guessing worm lizard or slender glass lizard
02/05/08  07:32pm

 #1613704


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Gottee guy   In reference to Message Id: 1611250


 Question

I would have to agree on "warm lizards" (members of amphisbaenidae).However if by slender glass lizard you mean, ophisaurus attenuatus I would disagree. 1 meter is pretty long.

My input, besides "worm lizards", would be anniella pulchra.Some can be as small as 4 inches and some can be as large as 8 inches but the average is 6 inches.




02/07/08  09:39am

 #1613705


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1613704


 Question

That first sentence should say "worm lizards". Sorry.
02/07/08  09:39am

 #1614631


Gottee guy
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1613705


 Question

wait so worm lizards are amphisbeans which are amphibeans and are not even related to lizards?
02/07/08  10:09pm

 #1614892


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: Gottee guy   In reference to Message Id: 1614631


 Question

Amphisbaenia is not the same as amphibian. Amphibian is a class of animals while amphisbaenia is a suborder under squamata(scaled reptiles).

Do you understand it now? If not I can give more information.
02/08/08  04:54am

 #1619795


CoffeeCreature
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1614892


 Question

Yes, so-called worm lizards are amphisbaens, which are neither lizards nor amphibians. Amphisbaens are a suborder of the order Squamata, which also includes snakes and lizards. Squamata is traditionally divided into three suborders:

Lacertilia - lizards
Serpentes - snakes
Amphisbaenia - amphisbaens, or worm lizards

So, taxonomically speaking, worm lizards are as similar to lizards as lizards are to snakes.

As for the original question, it is hard to say what the smallest legless lizard species is because there are so many, and there is not much information about most of these species. My guess is that of the better-known legless lizards, the slow worm (Anguis fragilis) may be the smallest.
02/11/08  05:18pm

 #1619884


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: CoffeeCreature   In reference to Message Id: 1619795


 Question

Anguis fragilis is fairly large at 15-20 inches.
Anniella pulchra and worm lizards are much smaller than that.
02/11/08  06:25pm

 #1620132


CoffeeCreature
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   Message To: PrinceSushi   In reference to Message Id: 1619884


 Question

But "worm lizards" are not lizards; they are amphisbaens (a different suborder).

You’re right--Anniella pulchra is only 4 - 7 inches long. Maybe it’s the smallest legless lizard.
02/11/08  09:31pm

 #1620236


Gottee guy
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   Message To: CoffeeCreature   In reference to Message Id: 1620132


 Question

i saw in a few amphibean and reptile books that amphisbeaia were amphibeans, not reptiles. i guess they had the wrong-- wait i’m thinking of the amphibean that looks like a worm lizard and it’s name starts with a "c". i can’t think of it. celecians or something?
02/11/08  10:15pm

 #1620248


PrinceSushi
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   Message To: CoffeeCreature   In reference to Message Id: 1620132


 Question

Yes you’re correct. I wasn’t paying attention.

Gottee Guy- Caecilian.
02/11/08  10:24pm


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