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Bogadek's Burrowing Lizard

Scientific Name: Dibamus bogadeki1)

Endemic?: Yes (Year of Discovery: 1987, Discoverer: Anthony Bogadek, Confirmed as new species in 1992)2)

IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated3)

Population: Unknown 4)

Distribution: 1 specimen found on Hei Ling Chau(喜靈洲) at about 50 m elevation, 2 on Shek Kwu Chau(石鼓洲), 1 on Sunshine Island (周公島).5)

Physical Description

The lizards, like other dibamids, are small and worm-like6). Though not visible at first glance, males possess a pair of degenerated hind limbs near the cloaca (the posterior hole for intestinal, urinal and reproductive tracts7)) that appear like two flaps of tissue8). They are mostly blind, with their eyes covered with scales9), due to the fact that they are adapted to a burrowing life10). It is the only species of Dibamid in Hong Kong11). The male has 2 legs, while the female has none12).


Bogadek's Burrowing Lizard13)

Habitat

Bogadek's Burrowing Lizard lives in damp soil under decomposing leaves14), stones or rotting wood, most likely in forests or tall shrubland15).

Behavior

Bogadek's Burrowing Lizard is nocturnal, docile and does not attempt to bite16).

Sightings

  • Has not been seen on Hei Ling Chau(喜靈洲) since 198717).
  • Seen 1 time on Sunshine Island (周公島)18).
  • Seen 3 times on Shek Kwu Chau, with the last sighting in 2002 (石鼓洲)19).

Threats

Potential Experts

  • Dr James Lazell20)
  • Dr Ilya Darevsky21).

Related News (see more in references)

"HK environmentalists outraged at landfill proposal", AFP, 4/1/2012

Contributing authors:

  • laurel
1), 3), 4), 5), 9), 15), 16) University of Hong Kong School of Biological Sciences. Dibamus bogadeki (Darevsky, 1992)]
2), 20) South China Morning Post. "The lizard is safe, its discoverer is told" by Stella Lee (03/03/2003)]
6), 8), 10), 11), 13) AFCD. Reptiles of Hong Kong]
7), 14), 17), 18), 19) Merriam-Webster Dictionary. "Cloaca"]
12) South China Morning Post. "Super-jail island's rare lizard goes to ground" by Cheung Chi Fai (02/06/2004)]
21) Darevsky, Ilya. "Two New Species of the Worm-like Lizard Dibamus (Sauria, Dibamidae), with Remarks on the Distribution and Ecology of Dibamus in Vietnam" by Ilya Darevsky in the Journal of Asiatic Herpetological Research(02/1992)]
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