Chordates • Earth.com

Western hooded scaly-foot

(Pygopus nigriceps)

Description

Adult hooded scaly-foots range from 45 to 55 cm long,with an average snout to vent length of 22.7 cm.Females are generally larger than males.Hooded scaly-foots show no trace of forelimbs,whilst the hind limbs are reduced to scaly flaps.These hind limbs are small and paddle-shaped,with modified scales which do not aid in movement.The scales of the hooded scaly-foot are smooth and weakly glossed.Usually,it has 120 or more ventral scales,which are in a paired series,much larger than the adjacent body scales.Body colour varies from brown to reddish-brown,with desert specimens usually a more orangish colour and other individuals a duller brown.It is white below.The species has little to no body pattern,with oblique dark lines converging mid-dorsally.These scaly-foots are characterised by black bands across the head and neck which may look like a hood.This hood comprises a band across the eyes onto the lips,a dark smudge on the nostrils,and a broad band across the neck.These dark bands may fade or merge with age.The lidless eye is well developed,covered with a transparent spectacle.The species is able to lick clean this spectacle using its broad,fleshy tongue.It also retains conspicuous ear openings.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Pygopodidae
Genus:Pygopus
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