Trogonophidae


Trogonophidae is a small family of amphisbaenians, containing six species in four genera.

Geographic range

Trogonophids are found in North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and western Iran.

Description

Trogonophids are limbless, carnivorous, lizard-like reptiles highly modified for burrowing. They construct their tunnels with an oscillating motion that forces soil into the walls. Unlike other amphisbaenians, their teeth are fused to their jaws, rather than lying in a groove.

Genera

The following four genera are recognized as being valid.
The following fossil taxa are also known:
Terastiodontosaurus from the Early or Middle Eocene of Tunisia is the largest known worm lizard to have ever existed, with an estimated total length of nearly. Todrasaurus from the Late Paleocene of Morocco is the earliest known species.