The world's shyest worm lizard has appeared on the surface for the first time in 90 years: photo

The Somali sharp-horned worm lizard is not only the most elusive creature on the planet but also the most unusual.

Interestingly, researchers were only able to spot it for the second time after more than 90 years, according to IFLScience.

This mysterious creature, resembling a pink worm, first became known in 1931 when scientists discovered a subspecies of reptile in the territory of the now unrecognized state of Somaliland. Interestingly, it was in this same location that the worm lizard reappeared for the second time - the reptile was rediscovered by Mark Spicer of the HALO Trust.

According to Spicer, the unusual lizard was discovered by accident, after which the researchers sent the images to herpetologist Tomas Masuch from Mendel University, who specializes in amphibians and reptiles in the Horn of Africa. The expert studied the images and confirmed that the mysterious pink worm is a subspecies of A. s. Parkeri.

The images of the amazing creature made it possible to rediscover this species and to remember how bizarre the flesh-pink worm lizards look. Typically, they measure about 20 centimeters in length and have a characteristic sharp snout.

Somali worm lizards are amphisbaenians, a group of legless lizards that are often referred to as worm lizards because of their appearance resembling earthworms. Like the latter, these reptiles live underground: they have smaller eyes but enhanced hearing.

Earlier, TravelWise reported on what the heaviest animal in the history of the Earth might have looked like.