About Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus, 1758
This section covers characteristics, distribution, and reproductive traits of Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus, 1758, starting with its erythrocyte traits. The stages of organelle ultrastructural change in developing erythroid cells match what is seen during development in other vertebrate groups. The most distinct difference found is the periodic transverse alignment of hemoglobin molecules within the organelle matrix of hemosomes. The transformation of erythroid cell organelles needed for hemoglobin biosynthesis proceeds slowly. This slow transformation is caused by A. alba’s low metabolic rate, which in turn comes from the hypoxic environment that the species inhabits. A. alba occurs in South America, with a range extending from eastern Venezuela and the island of Trinidad, through the entire Amazon Basin, to northern Argentina. Among all amphisbaenians, Amphisbaena alba has the largest geographic range. Reproduction in this species takes place during the dry season of its native geographic area. Some evidence indicates that this species uses the living space of leaf-cutting ants, and may even lay its eggs inside these ants’ nests. Compared to other amphisbaenians, A. alba lays the largest clutch of eggs at one time, between 8 and 16 eggs. This larger clutch size is possibly related to the species’ large body size. A. alba shows no sexual dimorphism in snout-vent length, meristic characters, or morphometric characters. This lack of dimorphism is most likely due to functional constraints connected to the species’ burrowing lifestyle. The ultrastructure of epididymal spermatozoa has been studied in A. alba. Mature spermatozoa of the species are filiform, with distinct features including a depression in the transverse section of the acrosome, a moderately long midpiece, columnar mitochondria, an elongated nucleus, and a fibrous sheath within the midpiece. Epidermal glands are located in the cloacal region of A. alba, and these glands are most likely used for reproduction and territory marking. The gland openings are plugged with solid holocrine secretion. This plug is removed as A. alba moves through tunnels, leaving a trail of the secretion behind.
