Florida Wormlizard: Rhineuridae

Florida wormlizards make their homes in the sandy and loose but rich soil of usually dry pine and broad-leaved forests. They are burrowing animals and therefore spend most of their time underground. When heavy rains drench the forests, these worms often leave their tunnels and venture out above ground. Because people usually only see them after a downpour, they sometimes call the animals thunderworms.

Florida wormlizards stay underground most of the time. (© Dave Norris/Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.)