What is the primary reason reliable longevity figures for *Bipes biporus* are elusive?

Answer

It spends nearly its entire existence hidden beneath the soil

The fundamental difficulty in determining the natural lifespan of *Bipes biporus* stems directly from its highly specialized fossorial lifestyle. Because the creature dedicates almost all of its time underground in tunnels, direct observation necessary for longitudinal studies—such as tracking growth rates or recording markings over multiple seasons—is nearly impossible. A field biologist might encounter a specimen briefly, but without the ability to monitor that specific individual over years, ascertaining whether it is young or old becomes speculative, leading to a severe scarcity of confirmed age data.

What is the primary reason reliable longevity figures for *Bipes biporus* are elusive?
MexicoreptileLongevitylizardmole lizard