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'''''Blanus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[amphisbaenia]]ns found in the [[Mediterranean region]] of Europe and North Africa.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1 = Albert |first1 = E. M. |last2 = Zardoya |first2 = R. |last3 = García-París |first3 = M. |doi = 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03248.x |title = Phylogeographical and speciation patterns in subterranean worm lizards of the genus ''Blanus'' (Amphisbaenia: Blanidae) |journal = Molecular Ecology |volume = 16 |issue = 7 |pages = 1519–1531 |year = 2007 |pmid = 17391273 |s2cid = 26071914 }}</ref> Like other amphisbaenians, ''Blanus'' species are specialized for a subterranean existence, with long, slender bodies, reduced limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Their skulls are powerfully constructed, allowing them to push through soil to create a burrow. Their jaws are well-developed, with large, recurved teeth and a pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw.
'''''Blanus''''', also known as ''worm lizards'', are a [[genus]] of [[amphisbaenia]]ns found in the [[Mediterranean region]] of Europe and North Africa.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1 = Albert |first1 = E. M. |last2 = Zardoya |first2 = R. |last3 = García-París |first3 = M. |doi = 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03248.x |title = Phylogeographical and speciation patterns in subterranean worm lizards of the genus ''Blanus'' (Amphisbaenia: Blanidae) |journal = Molecular Ecology |volume = 16 |issue = 7 |pages = 1519–1531 |year = 2007 |pmid = 17391273 |s2cid = 26071914 }}</ref> Like other amphisbaenians, ''Blanus'' species are specialized for a subterranean existence, with long, slender bodies, reduced limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Their skulls are powerfully constructed, allowing them to push through soil to create a burrow. Their jaws are well-developed, with large, recurved teeth and a pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw.


Five extant species are currently known. The relationships of ''Blanus'' to other worm-lizards are not clear. The genus was formerly included in the [[Amphisbaenidae]]. More recent analyses suggest that blanids are more primitive, and are either related to ''[[Bipes (lizard)|Bipes]]''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1 = Vidal |first1 = N. |last2 = Azvolinsky |first2 = A. |last3 = Cruaud |first3 = C. |last4 = Hedges |first4 = S. B. |title = Origin of tropical American burrowing reptiles by transatlantic rafting |doi = 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0531 |journal = Biology Letters |volume = 4 |issue = 1 |pages = 115–118 |date = 2007-12-11 |pmid = 18077239 |pmc =2412945 }}</ref> or represent an even more ancient lineage.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1 = Kearney |first1 = M. |last2 = Stuart |first2 = B. L. |doi = 10.1098/rspb.2004.2771 |title = Repeated evolution of limblessness and digging heads in worm lizards revealed by DNA from old bones |journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume = 271 |issue = 1549 |pages = 1677–1683 |year = 2004 |pmid = 15306287 |pmc = 1691774}}</ref>
Five extant species are currently known. The relationships of ''Blanus'' to other worm-lizards are not clear. The genus was formerly included in the [[Amphisbaenidae]]. More recent analyses suggest that blanids are more primitive, and are either related to ''[[Bipes (lizard)|Bipes]]''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1 = Vidal |first1 = N. |last2 = Azvolinsky |first2 = A. |last3 = Cruaud |first3 = C. |last4 = Hedges |first4 = S. B. |title = Origin of tropical American burrowing reptiles by transatlantic rafting |doi = 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0531 |journal = Biology Letters |volume = 4 |issue = 1 |pages = 115–118 |date = 2007-12-11 |pmid = 18077239 |pmc =2412945 }}</ref> or represent an even more ancient lineage.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1 = Kearney |first1 = M. |last2 = Stuart |first2 = B. L. |doi = 10.1098/rspb.2004.2771 |title = Repeated evolution of limblessness and digging heads in worm lizards revealed by DNA from old bones |journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume = 271 |issue = 1549 |pages = 1677–1683 |year = 2004 |pmid = 15306287 |pmc = 1691774}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:56, 29 October 2023

Blanus
Iberian worm lizard (Blanus cinereus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Clade: Amphisbaenia
Family: Blanidae
Kearney 2003
Genus: Blanus
Wagler, 1830[1]

Blanus, also known as worm lizards, are a genus of amphisbaenians found in the Mediterranean region of Europe and North Africa.[2] Like other amphisbaenians, Blanus species are specialized for a subterranean existence, with long, slender bodies, reduced limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Their skulls are powerfully constructed, allowing them to push through soil to create a burrow. Their jaws are well-developed, with large, recurved teeth and a pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw.

Five extant species are currently known. The relationships of Blanus to other worm-lizards are not clear. The genus was formerly included in the Amphisbaenidae. More recent analyses suggest that blanids are more primitive, and are either related to Bipes[3] or represent an even more ancient lineage.[4]

A number of fossils from Europe have been referred either to Blanus or to the Blanidae.[5]

Species

Evolutionary tree of Blanidae; extinct species denoted with gray lines

The genus contains the following species:[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Wagler, J. 1830. Natürliches System der AMPHIBIEN, mit vorangehender Classification der SÄUGTHIERE und VÖGEL. Ein Beitrag zur vergleichenden Zoologie. Munich, Stuttgart, and Tübingen: J.G. Cotta. vi + 354 pp. + one plate. (Genus Blanus, p. 197).
  2. ^ Albert, E. M.; Zardoya, R.; García-París, M. (2007). "Phylogeographical and speciation patterns in subterranean worm lizards of the genus Blanus (Amphisbaenia: Blanidae)". Molecular Ecology. 16 (7): 1519–1531. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03248.x. PMID 17391273. S2CID 26071914.
  3. ^ Vidal, N.; Azvolinsky, A.; Cruaud, C.; Hedges, S. B. (2007-12-11). "Origin of tropical American burrowing reptiles by transatlantic rafting". Biology Letters. 4 (1): 115–118. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2007.0531. PMC 2412945. PMID 18077239.
  4. ^ Kearney, M.; Stuart, B. L. (2004). "Repeated evolution of limblessness and digging heads in worm lizards revealed by DNA from old bones". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 271 (1549): 1677–1683. doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2771. PMC 1691774. PMID 15306287.
  5. ^ Augé, M. L. (2012). "Amphisbaenians from the European Eocene: A biogeographical review". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 92 (4): 425–443. doi:10.1007/s12549-012-0104-6. S2CID 129023376.
  6. ^ Blanus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 18 January 2014.
  7. ^ Blanus Wikispecies.

Media related to Blanus at Wikimedia Commons


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