Allow me to totally nerd out about this freaky little critter!! This is the Puerto Rican worm lizard! It is a legless, burrowing reptile native to Puerto Rico. Despite its name, it is neither a true lizard nor a snake but belongs to the order Squamata, within the suborder Amphisbaenia, a group distinct from both. Worm lizards are highly specialized for a subterranean lifestyle, with cylindrical, elongated bodies, reduced or absent eyes, and a strong, blunt head adapted for digging. Unlike snakes, which evolved from lizards and possess highly flexible skulls for consuming large prey, worm lizards have rigid skulls suited for pushing through soil. They also differ from typical lizards in their unique method of movement—some amphisbaenians move by accordion-like expansion and contraction of their bodies rather than lateral undulation. The Puerto Rican worm lizard is particularly adapted to life underground, with a pinkish, nearly translucent body and vestigial eyes that offer little to no vision. It primarily feeds on small invertebrates like ants and termites, using its powerful, shovel-shaped head to tunnel through loose soil. Unlike true lizards, it lacks external ear openings, which helps prevent debris from entering while burrowing. Its closest relatives are not snakes but other amphisbaenians, which are found in parts of the Americas, Africa, and Europe. The suborder Amphisbaenia is an evolutionary offshoot that diverged from early lizards millions of years ago, making worm lizards a unique lineage within the reptile world—neither quite lizard nor snake, but something entirely their own! Check out my full trip video posted on the “main video app” I can’t name here because of the algorithm, on my GatorChris channel! We had an AMAZING time, found some really cool animals, and met some great people!! #puertorico #puertoricanwormlizard #amphisbaena #reptile #animals #scicomm #educational #animaleducation