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Worm-lizards
Aprasia - Gray, 1839

Pronunciation: ah-PRAY-zee-ah
 Etymology: thought to be meaningless.1

Taxonomic notes:

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 14 out of 14 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: Batavia Coast worm lizard (Aprasia clairae) at 7.8 cm
 Longest Australian species: Flinders worm-lizard (Aprasia pseudopulchella) at 14.3 cm
Number of Australian species: 14
 

eared worm-lizard (Aprasia aurita)
Wathe Reserve, Victoria
Photo © Rob Valentic
eared worm-lizard (Aprasia aurita) distribution range map Aprasia aurita
Eared worm-lizard
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

Batavia Coast worm lizard (Aprasia clairae)
East Wallabi Island, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Batavia Coast worm lizard (Aprasia clairae) distribution range map Aprasia clairae
Batavia Coast worm lizard
Year described
Maryan, How and Adams 2013
Description
Slender body; 14 midbody scales; 152–154 ventral scales; 138–146 vertebral scales; five upper labial scales with first anteriorly fused to nasal scale; nasal suture typically contacting second upper labial scale; postocular scale fused with fourth upper labial scale.2 "Longitudinal lines of brownish streaks on a yellowish-brown dorsum with a densely flecked ventral surface."2

Shark Bay worm-lizard (Aprasia haroldi)
False Entrance Well, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Shark Bay worm-lizard (Aprasia haroldi) distribution range map Aprasia haroldi
Shark Bay worm-lizard
Year described
Storr 1978
Description

red-tailed worm-lizard (Aprasia inaurita)
Murray-Sunset National Park, Victoria
Photo © Jordan de Jong
red-tailed worm-lizard (Aprasia inaurita) distribution range map Aprasia inaurita
Red-tailed worm-lizard
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

Gnaraloo worm-lizard (Aprasia litorea)
Gnaraloo Homestead, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Gnaraloo worm-lizard (Aprasia litorea) distribution range map Aprasia litorea
Gnaraloo worm-lizard
Year described
Maryan, Bush & Adams 2013
Description
Small, slender-bodied.3 "12 midbody scales, 162-170 ventral scales, 158-168 vertebral scales, five upper labials with first anteriorly fused to nasal, condition of nasal suture variably contacting prefrontal or second upper labial, postocular fused with fourth upper labial"3. "Simple colouration of longitudinal lines of brownish streaks on a yellow-brown dorsum with a densely flecked ventral surface."3

pink-tailed worm-lizard (Aprasia parapulchella)
Bendigo, Victoria
Photo © Angus McNab
pink-tailed worm-lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) distribution range map Aprasia parapulchella
Pink-tailed worm-lizard
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

black-headed worm-lizard (Aprasia picturata)
Minara Homestead, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
black-headed worm-lizard (Aprasia picturata) distribution range map Aprasia picturata
Black-headed worm-lizard
Year described
Smith & Henry 1999
Description

Flinders worm-lizard (Aprasia pseudopulchella)
Burra region, South Australia
Photo © Jordan de Jong
Flinders worm-lizard (Aprasia pseudopulchella) distribution range map Aprasia pseudopulchella
Flinders worm-lizard
Year described
Kluge 1974
Description

granite worm-lizard (Aprasia pulchella)
Perth, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
granite worm-lizard (Aprasia pulchella) distribution range map Aprasia pulchella
Granite worm-lizard
Year described
Gray 1839
Description

sand-plain worm-lizard (Aprasia repens)
Perth, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
sand-plain worm-lizard (Aprasia repens) distribution range map Aprasia repens
Sand-plain worm-lizard
Year described
(Fry 1914)
Description

Ningaloo worm-lizard (Aprasia rostrata)
Trimouille Island, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Ningaloo worm-lizard (Aprasia rostrata) distribution range map Aprasia rostrata
Ningaloo worm-lizard
Year described
Parker 1956
Description
Small, very slender-bodied.3 "14 midbody scales, 172-192 ventral scales, 168-190 vertebral scales, five upper labials with first anteriorly fused to nasal, condition of nasal suture variably contacting prefrontal or second upper labial, postocular typically fused with fourth upper labial"3 Simple colouration of dark lines/streaks against a cream or light-brown dorsum. Ventral surface with light to heavy flecking.3

black-tipped worm-lizard (Aprasia smithi)
Meadow Homestead, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
black-tipped worm-lizard (Aprasia smithi) distribution range map Aprasia smithi
Black-tipped worm-lizard
Year described
Storr 1970
Description

lined worm-lizard (Aprasia striolata)
Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
Photo © Rob Valentic
lined worm-lizard (Aprasia striolata) distribution range map Aprasia striolata
Lined worm-lizard
Year described
Lütken 1863
Description

Wicherina worm lizard (Aprasia wicherina)
Wicherina region, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Wicherina worm lizard (Aprasia wicherina) distribution range map Aprasia wicherina
Wicherina worm lizard
Year described
Maryan, Adams & Aplin 2015
Description

References
  1. Ehmann, Harald (1992). Encyclopedia of Australian animals: Reptiles. Angus and Robertson. 495 pp - search web for this book
  2. Maryan, Brad; How, Ric A.; & Adams, Mark (2013). A new species of the Aprasia repens species-group (Squamata: Pygopodidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 28:30-43. - search web for this article
  3. Maryan, Brad; Bush, Brian G.; & Adams, Mark (2013). Morphological and molecular assessment of Aprasia fusca and A. rostrata (Squamata: Pygopodidae), with a description of a new species from the Lake MacLeod region, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 28:144-163.
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