''Blanus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

amphisbaenia Amphisbaenia (called amphisbaenians or worm lizards) is a group of usually legless squamates, comprising over 200 extant species. Amphisbaenians are characterized by their long bodies, the reduction or loss of the limbs, and rudimentary eyes. A ...

ns found in the

Mediterranean region In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin (; also known as the Mediterranean Region or sometimes Mediterranea) is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have mostly a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and ...

of Europe and North Africa. Like other amphisbaenians, ''Blanus'' species are specialized for a subterranean existence, with long, slender bodies, reduced limbs, and rudimentary eyes. Their skulls are powerfully constructed, allowing them to push through soil to create a burrow. Their jaws are well-developed, with large, recurved teeth and a pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw. Five extant species are currently known. The relationships of ''Blanus'' to other worm-lizards are not clear. The genus was formerly included in the

Amphisbaenidae The Amphisbaenidae (common name: worm lizards) are a family of amphisbaenians, a group of limbless vertebrates. Geographic range Amphisbaenids occur in South America, some Caribbean islands, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. Taxonomy One deep ...

. More recent analyses suggest that blanids are more primitive, and are either related to '' Bipes'' or represent an even more ancient lineage. A number of fossils from Europe have been referred either to ''Blanus'' or to the Blanidae.

Species

Evolutionary tree of the Blanidae - Journal

The genus contains the following

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

: Blanus Wikispecies. * '' Blanus alexandri''

Sindaco The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

, Kornilios, Sacchi & Lymberakis, 2014 * '' Blanus aporus''

Werner Werner may refer to: People * Werner (name), origin of the name and people with this name as surname and given name Fictional characters * Werner (comics), a German comic book character * Werner Von Croy, a fictional character in the ''Tomb Rai ...

, 1898 * '' Blanus cinereus'' ( Vandelli, 1797) –

Iberian worm lizard The Iberian worm lizard, Mediterranean worm lizard, or European worm lizard (''Blanus cinereus'') is a species of reptile in the family Blanidae (worm lizards) of the clade Amphisbaenia. The Iberian worm lizard is locally known as ''cobra-ce ...

* '' Blanus mariae''

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Alber ...

Fernández Fernández () is a Spanish surname meaning "son of Fernando". The Germanic name that it derives from (Gothic: ''Frið-nanð'') means "brave traveler." The Portuguese version of this surname is Fernandes. The Arabized version is ''Ibn Faranda'' ...

, 2009 * '' Blanus mendezi''† Bolet ''et al.'', 2014 * '' Blanus mettetali'' Bons, 1963 – Moroccan worm lizard * '' Blanus strauchi'' ( Bedriaga, 1884) – Turkish worm lizard * '' Blanus tingitanus'' Busack, 1988

References

Lizard genera Taxa named by Johann Georg Wagler Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{lizard-stub