Eumecia anchietae

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Eumecia anchietae
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Eumecia
Species:
E. anchietae
Binomial name
Eumecia anchietae
Bocage, 1870
Synonyms [2]
  • Eumecia anchietae
    Bocage, 1870
  • Lygosoma (Riopa) anchietae
    Boulenger, 1887
  • Lygosoma anchietae
    Sternfeld, 1911
  • Riopa (Eumecia) anchietae
    M.A. Smith, 1937
  • Riopa anchietae
    Loveridge, 1953
  • Eumecia anchietae
    Laurent 1964

Eumecia anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's serpentiform skink, Anchieta's snake skink, and the western serpentiform skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.

Contents

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

E. anchietae is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. [1] [2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of E. anchietae are grassland and savanna at altitudes of 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft). [1]

Description

The limbs of E. anchietae are very reduced. The front legs are minute, each with two toes. The hind legs are twice as large (but still very small), each with three toes. The body and tail are subcylindrical and elongate. [4]

Behavior

E. anchietae is diurnal and terrestrial. [1]

Reproduction

E. anchietae is viviparous. [2]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. [2]

Related Research Articles

Eumecia is a genus of skinks found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Melanoseps is a genus of lizards, known commonly as limbless skinks, in the family Scincidae. The genus is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sepsina is a genus of skinks. The genus is endemic to southern Africa.

José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta was a 19th-century Portuguese explorer and naturalist who, between 1866 and 1897, travelled extensively in Portuguese Angola, Africa, collecting animals and plants. His specimens from Angola and Mozambique were sent out to Portugal, where they were later examined by several zoologists and botanists, chiefly among them J.V. Barboza du Bocage.

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<i>Bitis heraldica</i> Species of snake

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<i>Python anchietae</i> Species of snake

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<i>Trachylepis striata</i> Species of lizard

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Anchietas cobra Species of snake

Anchieta's cobra, sometimes referred to as the Angolan cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.

Trachylepis bayonii, also known commonly as Bayão's skink, Bayon's mabuya, and Bayon's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are two subspecies.

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<i>Agama anchietae</i> Species of lizard

Agama anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's agama and the western rock agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

<i>Monopeltis anchietae</i> Species of amphisbaenian

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.

Shovel-snouted lizard Species of lizard

The shovel-snouted lizard, also known commonly as Anchieta's desert lizard, Anchieta's dune lizard and the Namib sand-diver, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

<i>Panaspis wahlbergii</i> Ethiopian snake-eyed skink

Panaspis wahlbergii, also known commonly as the Angolan snake-eyed skink, the savannah lidless skink, and Wahlberg's snake-eyed skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is indigenous to Sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Mochlus sundevallii</i> Species of lizard

Mochlus sundevallii, also known commonly as Peters' eyelid skink, Peters' writhing skink, and Sundevall's writhing skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Trachylepis bocagii</i> Species of lizard

Trachylepis bocagii, also known commonly as Bocage's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Sepsina bayonii, also known commonly as Bayon's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to Central Africa and Southern Africa.

Typhlacontias punctatissimus, also known commonly as the dotted blind dart skink, the speckled burrowing skink, and the speckled western burrowing skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to southern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Spawls S, Malonza PK, Beraducci J, Verburgt L, Pietersen D (2020). "Eumeces anchietae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T44978884A44978889. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T44978884A44978889.en. Downloaded on 13 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Eumecia anchietae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 September 2019.
  3. Beolens B, Watkins, Grayson (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Eumecia anchietae, p. 8).
  4. Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. ... Scincidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I–XL. (Lygosoma anchietæ, pp. 316–317).

Further reading