Rhineura floridana

Worm Lizard

Florida Distribution: northern part of south to Lake Okeechobee.

Identification: 41 cm. Not actually a lizard but a member of the amphisbaenids. Probably could only be confused with an earthworm but differs most obviously by having a hard head. They live in well drained soil and are rarely seen above ground. Not suited to captivity. Intolerant of wet conditions. The one below was brought in by someone that found it during home construction and had it in moist soil. It had numerous red sores on it within a day (one can be seen on the left of the picture). After these pictures I immediately released it. Another time I was called because a neighbor turned one up during some construction. After my last encounter, I placed one in some of the dry sand it had been in, and brought it home to get some pictures. Within an hour it had sores on it. The only cause I can think of is a reaction to the oils on my hand.

This one was brought to me, but had been fatally injured, during the digging that turned it up.