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Worm Lizard — Part 2
Dimensions.—Total Length . . . . . 3 inches.
Distribution.—In the eastern United States the species ranges from southern New Jersey southward throughout Florida; in the Central States it occurs as far north as southern Illinois. It ranges westward to central Texas, thence southward into Mexico.
Habits.—While hunting for this miniature reptile the writer has always noted that it is very secretive in habits--in fact leads a burrowing life. Large numbers of specimens were found under the loose bark of fallen trees. When uncovered they displayed considerable agility, half running, half wriggling away in a series of rapid, lateral undulations to disappear among dead leaves or burrow their way into mould or wood-pulp. The snappy, undulating movements assist the lizard to a great extent in its locomotion, as the limbs are too short to be of use in actual running. Many times has the writer mistaken these reptiles for the small salamanders--Spelerpes or Plethodon. If they are grasped by the tail, they turn quickly, twisting that member from the body and leaving it as a wriggling souvenir while the lizard wastes no time in scurrying to shelter. Ultimately, a new tail is grown, but it is always shorter than the original.
This reptile is limbless and worm-like in form, with scarcely the diameter of a large earthworm, for which, at a glance, the creature might readily be mistaken. The body presents a ringed, segmented appearance. The head is of the same width as the neck and is covered with shields; it lacks the presence of external eyes and ears. Very coarsely ringed and corrugated, the tail is blunt and resembles the head in general outlines.
Total Length . . . . . 8 1/2 inches.
Length of Tail . . . . . 9/16 inches.
Greatest Diameter . . . . . 1/4 inches.
Seldom venturing from the soil except after heavy rains, this creature's visits to the light are few and consist of an aimless wandering for a short distance and nosing over the ground for a suitable spot in which to begin a new burrow. When such is found the snout is called into play and the reptile bores its way down and out of sight in a manner very suggestive of an earthworm.
Specimens are often found during the ploughing season, when they are uncovered from a distance of about four or five inches, from beneath the surface.
In captivity the species is uninteresting, as it passes all of its time in hiding, if soil is provided, and soon dies if not given a medium in which to burrow. Few captive specimens can be induced to partake regularly of the grubs or worms that may be offered. If uncovered from their hiding places, and scratched with the finger, they wriggle about uneasily, often opening a diminutive mouth and assuming an amusing attitude of self defence. At such times the tail is elevated from the ground, and the tip held aloft in a manner that might cause the novice to readily mistake it for the head, which lies flat upon the ground.
CHAPTER XXIII: THE SKINKS OR SMOOTH-SCALED LIZARDS
Small, Glossy-scaled Lizards of a Large Family, Represented in North America by Two Genera and Fifteen Species
Classification and Distribution.--The Scincidae is one of the largest families of the lizards and its members occur abundantly in both the Eastern and the Western Hemispheres. The largest number of species inhabit the Old World. The family is richly represented in Australia.
The Skinks are of small or moderate size and usually have smooth--generally shining scales. The scalation is quite hard as the scales cover bony plates.
Like the Anguidae, the Skinks present interesting phases of evolution. Most of the species have short limbs but are agile runners; others are serpent-like in body and have extremely minute limbs with which they drag the body when progressing leisurely, but in time of danger fold them against the sides and glide away like a snake; some have a minute pair of forelimbs only, and a few have but a pair of useless hind limbs. A number are limbless and snake-like.
The North, American species have well-developed limbs and are very agile. Two genera are represented in the United States, namely: Eumeces, with fourteen species, and a single species of Lygosoma. All of these species are of small or very moderate size, with smooth, shining scales. Their glossy aspect at once distinguishes them from other lizards. Of the two genera, Eumeces is the smaller; it contains about thirty species, the majority inhabiting the New World: the others are found in Africa and Asia. Lygosoma is a large genus, containing over 160 species; these are generally distributed throughout the temperate and tropical portions of the globe and among them are many of the forms with minute and comparatively useless limbs.