Trogonophidae

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Cladus: Unidentata Episquamata

Subordo: Lacertoidea
Infraordo: Lacertibaenia
Cladus: Amphisbaenia

Familia: Trogonophidae
Genera: Agamodon - Diplometopon - Pachycalamus - Trogonophis

Name

Trogonophidae Gray, 1865
Vernacular names
English: Shorthead Worm Lizards

Trogonophidae (Palearctic worm lizards or desert ringed lizards) is a small family of amphisbaenians, containing five species in four genera.

Geographic range

Trogonophids are found in North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and western Iran.[1]
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.[1]
Genera

The following four genera are recognized as being valid.[2]

Agamodon W. Peters, 1882 (three species)
Diplometopon Nikolskii, 1907 (monotypic)
Pachycalamus Günther, 1881 (monotypic)
Trogonophis Kaup, 1830 (monotypic)

References

Gans C (1998). Cogger HG; Zweifel RG (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 216–217. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.

"Trogonophidae". The Reptile Database.