Water dispersal of Amphisbaena alba and Amphisbaena amazonica (Squamata: Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae) in Brazilian Amazonia

First record of Amphisbaena anomala (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) in lowland Caatinga based on citizen science, with an updated distribution map

“…Most of the species' records in the Cerrado are on the banks of the Tocantins River. It may be possible that the Tocantins River is a natural barrier to the geographic range of A. anomala , but water dispersal is possible for those fossorial animals (Maschio et al, 2009). Specimens catalogued as from Babaçulândia and Palmeiras do Tocantins (cities at the left bank of the Tocantins River) were collected during the dam flooding at the Estreito hydroelectric power plant and we do not discard they could be from the right bank of the river.…”

New record and updated distribution map of the rare Amphisbaena spurrelli (Amphisbaenia: Amphisbaenidae)

“…Unfortunately, the collection data do not specify whether the specimen was collected in a forest that naturally was seasonally flooded or flooded by the Bayano Dam. Despite their fossorial habits, amphisbaenians can swim (Maschio et al 2009, van der Hoek 2018. A small Venezuelan species from the Orinoco Plains (A. gracilis Strauch, 1881) is somewhat unusual because it lives in wetlands covered by palms (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.), known as 'morichales'; the worm lizards launch themselves in the water to flee from predators (Señaris 2001).…”