When most guys think of herping, snakes, frogs, or maybe even a Gila monster come to mind. But dig a little deeper, literally, and you’ll stumble upon one of South America’s weirdest and most elusive herps: the Bolivian Collared Amphisbaenid (Amphisbaena boliviensis). If you’ve never heard of this creature, you’re not alone. It’s rarely seen, rarely studied, and rarely understood. But for those of us who live for the thrill of spotting the un-spotable, this little subterranean serpent lookalike is pure herping gold.

What Even Is an Amphisbaenid?
Let’s start with the basics. Amphisbaenians, often called worm lizards, are a group of legless reptiles that belong to their own order, Amphisbaenia. They’re not snakes. They’re not lizards. They’re something entirely different, with a long, cylindrical body, scales arranged in rings like a worm, and a head that looks built to bash through soil.

The Bolivian Collared Amphisbaenid is especially unique for its dark collar markings that give it a rugged, battle-ready appearance, like it’s wearing a tactical neck brace. These guys are fossorial, which means they spend most of their lives underground, burrowing through loose soil in the forests of Bolivia.

Why It’s So Rare to Spot
Herping for a Bolivian Collared Amphisbaenid is not for the casual trail-walker. You won’t see one basking on a rock or coiled in a crevice. Your best chance? After heavy rain, when soil gets saturated and they’re occasionally forced to the surface. Even then, it’s a shot in the dark.

Most sightings come from accidental discoveries during digging or construction, or from researchers flipping logs and digging in soft forest soil. These little units don’t like the spotlight. But that makes them even more rewarding when you do stumble across one.

Features That Set It Apart

• Body: Long, segmented, and built like a muscular worm.
• Head: Broad and blunt—adapted for pushing through earth.
• Eyes: Practically useless; they’re tiny and often hidden under scales.
• Movement: It moves by contracting its body in a concertina motion—think slinky, but reptilian.
• Defense: While it doesn’t bite or strike like a snake, it can deliver a pretty strong push with its snout and tail to escape predators—or your grip.

A Dream Find on a Herping Tour
If you ever join a guided herping tour through Bolivia, especially in places like the Beni savanna or lowland Amazonian forests, keep this oddball on your wish list. Experienced guides may know areas where sightings have occurred, but it’s still a long shot. That said, if you’re the kind of guy who lives for rare finds, this one is worth the muddy boots and mosquito bites.

The Bolivian Collared Amphisbaenid is like the Bigfoot of the reptile world: mostly underground, barely photographed, and steeped in mystery. But it’s real. And it’s wild.

Final Thoughts
This isn’t your average reptile. It doesn’t strike poses on branches or flash neon colors to the camera. The Bolivian Collared Amphisbaenid plays hard to get and that’s exactly why we’re obsessed.

If you’re planning your next herping adventure, maybe skip the usual tourist trails. Bring a shovel, some patience, and a sense of wonder and you just might unearth one of herping’s most underground legends.