The Munoa worm lizard (Amphisbaena munoai) is a small species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae of the reptilian order Squamata. The species is native to southern South America.
Etymology The specific name, munoai, is in honor of Uruguayan zoologist Juan Ignacio Muñoa (1925–1960).Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Amphisbaena munoai, p. 185).
Description Amphisbaena munoai has a rounded head. The body annuli number 202–218, and the caudal annuli number 18–25. There are 10–14 segments in an annulus at midbody. There are four precloacal pores.
Habitat The preferred natural habitat of Amphisbaena munoai is grassland, at elevations of .
Behavior Amphisbaena munoai is terrestrial and fossorial. It can be found hiding under stones or decomposing bark. Hiding under stones allows the amphisbaenian to raise its body temperature without exposing itself to predators.
Diet The main component of the diet of Amphisbaena munoai consists of termites, but it also consumes various types of small insect larvae.
Reproduction Amphisbaena munoai has a seasonal reproductive cycle. Females are able to be fertilized between June and October while males display a high testicle volume during this period. Females carry eggs from November to December and thus it is believed that copulation occurs from September to November. The eggs of A. munoai are frequently found in ant nests. Sexually mature males have a significantly smaller snout-vent length than sexually mature females.
Geographic distribution Amphisbaena munoai can be found in the pampas biome of southern Brazil, a temperate climate, and in Uruguay.
References
Further reading (in English, with an abstract in Portuguese). (Amphisbaena munoai, p. 17). Klappenbach, Miguel A. (1960). "Notas herpetológicas, I. Amphisbaena munoai n. sp. (Amphisbaenidae)". Comunicaciones Zoológicas del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo 4 (84): 3. (Amphisbaena munoai, new species). (in Spanish).