Wormtail

Wormtail - "Sebastian Romu" © 2019

About

Common Names

Wormtail

Classification

Reptile

A medium sized lizard species named for the appearance of the terminal half of their tails. These lizards prey on a variety of birds, amphibians, mammals, and other lizards. They are known to lay in wait and twitch their tails in a manner resembling a wriggling earthworm, then pounce upon unwary prey lured in by the bait.

Description

Size

<0.5 kg (<1 pound), 25-30 centimetres (10-13 inches) length

Appearance

Scaled lizard in brown, tans, and other earth tones, with six roughly equal length legs, and a long tail with a fat pinkish-brown appearance for the terminal half.

Sexual Dimorphism

No significant difference between the sexes.

Variance

Some colouration and patterning differences between sub-species.

Ecology

Habitat

Savanna, mixed light-forest, scrub, or grasslands, sub-tropical to temperate latitudes.

Diet

Small mammals, birds, amphibians or other lizards.

Behaviour

Social grouping

Solitary or small groups numbering less than 6 individuals.

Temperament

Wary

Intelligence

Animal

Reproduction

After mating females will lay a half dozen eggs in a shallow scraped nest, or den. She will brood the eggs until hatching. Young wormtails will stay near their parent for a few months until they are able to successfully hunt on their own.

Hunting

Wormtails utilize the tips of their tails as bait. Laying in wait behind cover, they will wriggle their tail tips in a manner that resembles a worm wriggling on the ground, to lure prey into range to be ambushed.

Domestication

General

None.

Resources

Meat.