Monopeltis anchietae
Monopeltis anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's worm lizard, Anchieta's spade-snouted worm lizard, and the Angolan spade-snouted worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to southern Africa.
| Monopeltis anchietae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Amphisbaenidae |
| Genus: | Monopeltis |
| Species: | M. anchietae |
| Binomial name | |
| Monopeltis anchietae (Bocage, 1873) | |
 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Etymology
The specific name, anchietae, is in honor of Portuguese naturalist José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta, who was an explorer of Africa.[3]
Geographic range
M. anchietae is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia (including the Caprivi Strip), and Zambia.[2]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of M. anchietae is savanna, at altitudes of 500–1,200 m (1,600–3,900 ft).[1]
Description
M. anchietae is reddish brown dorsally, and unpigmented ventrally. The head shields are yellowish tan. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in). The maximum recorded SVL is 34.5 cm (13.6 in).[4]
Reproduction
M. anchietae is viviparous.[2]
References
- Baptista N, Becker F, Bauer AM, Conradie W, Ceríaco LMP (2020). "Monopeltis anchietae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T176243A120630562. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T176243A120630562.en. Downloaded on 21 February 2021.
- Monopeltis anchietae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.
- Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Monopeltis anchietae, p. 8).
- Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Monopeltis anchietae, p. 124 + Plate 41).
Further reading
- Auerbach RD (1987). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Gaborone, Botswana: Mokwepa Consultants. 295 pp. ISBN 978-9991201139. (Monopeltis anchietae, p. 139).
- Bocage JVB (1873). "Reptiles nouveaux de l'intérieur de Mossamedes ". Jornal de Sciências Mathemáticas Physicas e Naturaes da Academia Real das Sciencias de Lisboa 4: 247–253. ("Lepidosternon (Phractogonus) Anchietae", new species, pp. 247–248, Figures 1–4). (in French).
- Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Amphisbænidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (Monopeltis anchietae, pp. 458–459).
- Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (289): 1–130. (Monopeltis anchietae, p. 34).