A review of chromatic anomalies in Blanus (Amphisbaenia: Blanidae) through citizen science records

Abstract

: Hypopigmentation is characterized by the lack of melanin in part or the whole body. For nocturnal or fossorial reptiles, hypopigmentation may be less disadvantageous, as they are less exposed to visually oriented predators. But chromatic anomalies are challenging to observe in fossorial species, such as worm lizards (Amphisbaenia), because they are difficult to detect in the wild. We assessed information on hypopigmentation in the worm lizard genus Blanus based on two citizen science platforms and found the first record of piebaldism in B. aporus , new records of piebaldism in B. vandellii and B. strauchi , and the first record of amelanism in B. cinereus . This underscores the relevance of citizen science for obtaining new data on chromatic anomalies in fossorial animals. Hypopigmentation occurs more frequently in Blanus than previously known and most, if not all new records were observed in adults, supporting the hypothesis that this chromatic anomaly is less disadvantageous to fossorial reptiles.