The head skeleton of Amphisbaena alba Lineaus

The skull of Amphisbaena alba Linneaus and its disarticulated components ar e described in detail and illustrated by photographs and labeled sketches. The cartilaginous components, particularly the adult chondrocranium are cha racterized in parallel. The bone formerly referred as the orbitosphenoid is considered as a distinct element nonhomologous to the synonymous element i n other squamates and hence referred to as a "tabulosphenoid" (sphenoid pla te). The element-X (of Zangerl) is considered to represent an epiphysis tha t facilitates the transmission of muscular forces to the growing skull, rat her than being the remnant of an element no longer expressed. Cranial kines is is discussed as are the general structural patterns associated with the relative distribution of spongy and dense laminar bone.