Maria's worm lizard (Blanus mariae) is an amphisbaenian species in the family Blanidae. The species is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.[1]
| Blanus mariae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Blanidae |
| Genus: | Blanus |
| Species: | B. mariae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Blanus mariae | |
Geographic range edit
Blanus mariae is found in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, mainly in the southern half of Portugal and in the spanish autonomous communities of Extremadura and western Andalusia.[1][2]
Taxonomy edit
Blanus mariae forms a cryptic species complex with Blanus cinereus.[3]
Etymology edit
The specific name, mariae, is in honour of Maria del Rosario Aguilar Tortajada (1914–2002), the grandmother of Eva María Albert, one of the scientists who described this species.[1][4]
Description edit
Blanus mariae has an average snout–vent length of 175 mm (6.9 in). The body colour is pale pink to dark brilliant purple, with a reticulate pattern caused by the inter-segmental sutures.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Blanus mariae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Blanus mariae". Albert y Fernández, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ Bolet, Arnau; Delfino, Massimo; Fortuny, Josep; Almécija, Sergio; Robles, Josep M.; Alba, David M. (4 June 2014). "An amphisbaenian skull from the European Miocene and the evolution of Mediterranean worm lizards". PLOS ONE. 9 (6): e98082. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...998082B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098082. PMC 4045672. PMID 24896828.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Blanus mariae, pp. 168-169).
Further reading edit
Albert, Eva M.; Fernández, Adrián (2009). "Evidence of cryptic speciation in a fossorial reptile: description of a new species of Blanus (Squamata: Amphisbaenia: Blanidae) from the Iberian Peninsula". Zootaxa 2234: 56-68. (Blanus mariae, new species).