Bipes | |
---|---|
Bipes biporus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Clade: | Amphisbaenia |
Family: | Bipedidae |
Genus: |
Bipes Latreille, 1801 |
Species | |
Bipes alvarezi |
Bipes alvarezi
Bipes biporus (Cope, 1894)
Bipes canaliculatus Latreille, 1801
Bipes tridactylus (Dugès, 1894)
Bipes is a genus of amphisbaenians found only in Mexico, the sole living member of the family Bipedidae. Commonly known as ajolotes, they are carnivorous, burrowing reptiles, but unlike other species of amphisbaenians, they possess two stubby forelimbs placed far forward on the body. The shovel-like limbs are used to scrape away soil while burrowing through the soil, in a manner similar to a mole. Evidence for their occurrence in the United States is reviewed by Somma (1993).