To sneak
To sneak | ||||||||||||
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Slow worm ( Anguis fragilis ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Anguidae | ||||||||||||
Gray , 1825 |
The sneaks (Anguidae) are a family in the class of the reptiles (Reptilia), which includes over 70 species in 10 genera. They occur in Europe , Asia , North , Central and South America as well as on the Antilles .
features
The sneaks are a diverse family of lizards. There are both snake-like, legless species, such as the European slow worm , as well as elongated forms whose legs are stunted to small stumps, and normal four-legged and fifteen-toed species. In all sneaks, the scales are reinforced by bone platelets.
Many species have a stretchy fold of skin on either side of the body that makes it easier to eat or breathe. It is also useful in the development of the eggs. As with the real lizards , the tail breaks off easily. After a certain time it grows back, but no longer in its original size. Unlike snakes , sneaks have movable eyelids and external ear openings.
Sneaks have strong jaws, in most cases blunt molars. Most sneaks feed on hard-shelled insects and mollusks , while others also feed on lizards and small mammals . Few species give birth to live young. Most lay eggs.
Systematics
The creeping species are divided into two subfamilies, 10 genera and over 70 species. The former subfamily of double tongue creeps is now managed as an independent family Diploglossidae.
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Anguinae
Gray subfamily , 1825
- Genus Anguis Linnaeus , 1758
- Peloponnese slow worm (
- Genus Anguis Linnaeus , 1758
- Eastern slow worm ( Anguis colchica ( Nordmann , 1840))
- Greek slow worm ( Anguis graeca Bedriaga , 1881)
- Slow worm ( Anguis fragilis Linnaeus , 1758)
- Italian slow worm ( Anguis veronensis Pollini , 1818)
- Scheltopusik ( Pseudopus apodus ( Pallas , 1775))
- Tree sneaks genus ( Abronia Gray , 1838)
- Genus Barisia Gray , 1838
- Genus Coloptychon Tihen , 1949
- Genus Elgaria Gray , 1838
- Southern crocodile sneak ( Elgaria multicarinata ( Blainville , 1835))
- Genus Gerrhonotus Wiegmann , 1828
- Genus Mesaspis Cope , 1877
The creeps can be found fossil for the first time in the Upper Cretaceous . In Geiseltal in Merseburg to remains of strongly armored genera found Glyptosaurus and Placosaurus .
literature
- Hans-Eckard Gruner, Horst Füller, Kurt Günther: Urania Tierreich. Fish, amphibians, reptiles. Urania-Verlag, Leipzig a. a. 1991, ISBN 3-332-00491-3 .
Individual evidence
Web links
- Anguidae in The Reptile Database
- Animal Diversity Web Family Anguidae
- Herpetofauna of North Rhine-Westphalia