Two new species of the worm-like lizard Dibamus (Sauria: Dibamidae) with remarks on the distribution and ecology of Dibamus in Vietnam

Abstract

Within Vietnam and the southern part of China there dwell 5 species of worm-like lizards of the genus Dibamus, two of them (D. greeri sp. nov. and D. bogadeki sp. nov.) are new to science. Some new data on the distribution, ecology, morphology, coloration, as well as the structure of hemipenes and the autotomy and regeneration of the tail is given for the species studied. The specific peculiarities of the body and tail coloration in some dibamids may apparently draw the attention of birds of prey, and in connection with this are regarded as the manifestation of attractive coloration and as Batesian mimicry.