Aprasia rostrata
species of reptile
Aprasia rostrata, also known as the Hermite Island worm-lizard or Exmouth worm-lizard, is a species of lizard in the Pygopodidae family endemic to the Montebello Islands, Australia.
History
Two specimens of A. rostrata were collected from the Montebello Islands in 1952, before the Operation Hurricane nuclear test. Subsequent surveys decades later failed to find more specimens, and concerns were raised that the lizard's geographic restriction meant it was vulnerable and likely to become extinct. They were not successfully located again until 2006, when four individual specimens were collected from under Acacia coriacea stumps with live ant colonies. The survey demonstrated that A. rostrata is not extinct despite the nuclear test and introduction of other species to the islands, such as black rats. In 2007, the "rediscovery" was published in The Western Australian Naturalist.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Aprasia rostrata” as species of reptile. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as species of reptile. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 21, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q5235339. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1952, 2006 and 2007.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Aprasia rostrata”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Aprasia rostrata primary sources, Aprasia rostrata archive and Aprasia research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Aprasia rostrata”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Aprasia rostrata” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.