Brachymeles vermis is one of only five known limbless species of lizard in the genus Brachymeles. This species is only known to occur in the Sulu Archipelago at the southern most extreme of the Philippines. Three of the five recognized limbless species occur in the Philippines (B. lukbani, B. minimus, and B. vermis). A fourth limbless species is known from Borneo (B. apus), and the limbless monotypic genus Davewakeum from Thailand was recently shown to be a member of the genus Brachymeles. The genus Brachymeles represents a unique group of semi-burrowing (semi-fossorial) lizards in that the group possesses species with a full spectrum of body forms, from limbed species with five fingers and five toes, to fully limbless species. Researchers are interested in the process and patterns behind the evolution of these drastic changes in body form. With the exception of two species from Borneo (B. apus) and Thailand (B. miriamae), all species of Brachymeles are endemic to the Philippines. This means they are found among the more than 7,000 Philippine islands and nowhere else in the world.
According to the IUCN categories and classification structure, we consider the conservation status of this species as “Least Concern (LC),” pending the collection of additional information that might suggest otherwise.
Brachymeles vermis can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body size small (SVL 62.8–74.7 mm); (2) external limb elements absent; (3) supralabials six; (4) infralabials six; (5) suparciliaries one or two; (6) supraoculars four; (7) midbody scale rows 22–24; (8) frontoparietals not contacting on midline; (9) mental/1st infralabial fusion absent; (10) postnasals absent; (11) enlarged chin shields in three pairs; (12) nuchal scales differentiated; and (13) auricular opening absent.
Brachymeles vermis is recognized to occur in the Sulu Archipelago.
SVL 62.8–74.7 mm
Taylor's short-legged skink (Brachymeles vermis) is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines.[2]
Taylor's short-legged skink (Brachymeles vermis) is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines.
