Zarudny's worm lizard

Zarudny's worm lizard (Diplometopon zarudnyi) is a species of amphisbaenian reptile in the family Trogonophidae. The species is monotypic within the genus Diplometopon. The species is native to the Middle East.

Etymology
The specific name, zarudnyi, is in honor of Russian zoologist Nikolai Zarudny.

Geographic range
D. zarudnyi is found in western Iran, southern Iraq, and on the Arabian peninsula in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, northern Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of D. zarudnyi are desert, grassland, and shrubland, at altitudes from sea level to 1,000 m.

Description
D. zarudnyi typically measures approximately 30 cm in total length (including tail). Because it has no limbs, it uses body undulations similar to a snake to move itself along. It has limited vision.

Behavior
D. zarudnyi is terrestrial and fossorial, burrowing in sand or loose soil.

Diet
The diet of D. zarudnyi consists of insects (mainly larvae and adults of beetles of the genus Dermestes), and other small invertebrates.

Reproduction
D. zarudnyi is oviparous.

Conservation status
D. zarudnyi is classified as Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN Red List.