Monopeltis anchietae

Monopeltis anchietae
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Clade:	Amphisbaenia
Family:	Amphisbaenidae
Genus:	Monopeltis
Species:	M. anchietae
Binomial name
Monopeltis anchietae (Bocage, 1873)
Synonyms [2]
Lepidosternon (Phractogonus) anchietae Bocage, 1873 Monopeltis quadriscutata F. Werner, 1910 Monopeltis okavangensis Monard, 1931 Monopeltis devisi Monard, 1937 Monopeltis anchietae — Gans, 1967

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.

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

1. 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.
2. Monopeltis anchietae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 24 February 2019.
3. 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).
4. 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 Lisboa4: 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).