Diet

What does the Giant Amphisbaenian eat?

These animals are carnivores. They will feed on invertebrates such as earthworms and beetle larvae. Some have also been recorded to eat reptile eggs and small mammals such as mice.

Much of the water needs are obtained through their food.

Learn more about the Giant Amphisbaenian in this video from John Kokenzie, Jr. on YouTube

Range

Where do you find the Giant Amphisbaenian?

South America is the native home of the giant amphisbaenian. Here they can be found in the following countries - Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; French Guiana; Guyana; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

It is likely that they have the largest range of any amphisbaenian.

Habitat

Where can the Giant Amphisbaenian survive?

These animals will make their home in forest, savanna, shrubland and grassland. They have shown the ability to live in cultivated fields.

Much of their time is spent in a burrow system. They will make use of the nests of ants or termites and can also be seen hidden under decaying logs. Their body is muscular to allow them to burrow in to the soil.

Credit: Diogo B. Provete, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Reproduction

How does the Giant Amphisbaenian produce its young?

Females deposit their young in clutches of 8 to 16. They have one of the largest clutches of any amphisbaenian.

Egg laying occurs in the nest of a leaf cutter ant colony.

Young are equipped with an egg tooth which they will use to break out of their egg. At hatching the young may have some small black spots across their body.

Behavior

What does the Giant Amphisbaenian do during its day?

Due to the muscular contractions which they use to push themselves along they are able to move backwards and forwards.

Their activity pattern is variable across their range. In some areas they are active by day while in others they are active by night.

Where needed these animals are able to swim.

Predators and Threats

What stops the Giant Amphisbaenian from surviving and thriving?

Natural predators of the giant amphisbaenian include birds such as hawks and snakes.

When threatened this species will bend its body in to a horseshoe shape. They then raise both the head and tail giving the impression that they have two heads and are a larger threat.

Unlike similar species they are unable to lose their tail if threatened.

Populations of the giant amphisbaenian are considered stable across their range.

No major threats to this species are recognized. They may be less susceptible to climate change as they live below the ground.

In some areas they are captured for use in a traditional remedy to combat bone ailments.

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Quick facts

The giant amphisbaenian is also known as the red-worm lizard, giant worm lizard or white-bellied worm lizard.

This species was first described for western science in 1758.

Their name, Amphisbaena is taken from a Latin word meaning "fabulous serpent with a head at each end.'

Credit: Diogo B. Provete, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons