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Bipedidae is a family of amphisbaenians that includes the extant genus Bipes represented by three species from Baja California and the southern coast of Mexico and the extinct genus Anniealexandria represented by one species that lived in what is now Wyoming during the earliest Eocene around 55 million years ago. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Bipedidae is most closely related to the family Blanidae, which includes the living genus Blanus.

Wikidata facts

Instance of
monotypic taxon
Parent taxon
Amphisbaenia
Image
Bipes biporus.jpg
Show 7 more facts
taxon rank
family
taxon name
Bipedidae
taxon common name
Mexicaanse Wormhagedis
Commons category
Bipedidae
start time
55000000-0
topic's main category
Category:Bipedidae
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Encyclopedic overview

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Bipedidae is a family of amphisbaenians that includes the extant genus Bipes represented by three species from Baja California and the southern coast of Mexico and the extinct genus Anniealexandria represented by one species that lived in what is now Wyoming during the earliest Eocene around 55 million years ago. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Bipedidae is most closely related to the family Blanidae, which includes the living genus Blanus.

Bipedidae are very small, usually ranging from 120 to 240 mm. They lack external hind limbs and are the only amphisbaenians with well-developed fossorial front limbs, which each include five claws. They have a short tail that does not regenerate if lost. They use their blunt head for burrowing by ramming it into the soil, and usually prey on arthropods.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Bipedidae” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.