Monopeltis sphenorhynchus

Monopeltis sphenorhynchus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Clade:	Amphisbaenia
Family:	Amphisbaenidae
Genus:	Monopeltis
Species:	M. sphenorhynchus
Binomial name
Monopeltis sphenorhynchus W. Peters, 1879
Synonyms [1] [2]
Monopeltis sphenorhynchus W. Peters, 1879 Lepidosternon sphenorhynchum Strauch, 1881 Monopeltis sphenorhynchus — Boulenger, 1885 Monopeltis mauricei Parker, 1935 Monopeltis habenichti V. FitzSimons, 1937 Monopeltis capensis gazei V. FitzSimons, 1937 Monopeltis ocularis V. FitzSimons, 1941 Monopeltis sphenorhynchus — Auerbach, 1987

Monopeltis sphenorhynchus, also known commonly as Maurice's slender worm lizard, Maurice's spade-snouted worm lizard, and the slender spade-snouted worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to southern Africa. There are two recognized subspecies.

Geographic range

M. sphenorhynchus is found in Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa. ^[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of M. sphenorhynchus are deep sand and alluvial soil. ^[3]

Description

Slender and medium-sized for the genus, adults of M. sphenorhynchus usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in). The maximum recorded SVL is 32.5 cm (12.8 in). The body is uniformly pink, both dorsally and ventrally. ^[3]

Reproduction

The mode of reproduction of M. sphenorhynchus is unknown. ^[1]

References

1. Monopeltis sphenorhynchus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 24 February 2019.
2. Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Amphisbænidae. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (Monopeltis sphenorhynchus, p. 455).
3. 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 sphenorhynchus, p. 126 + Plate 41).

Further reading

• Auerbach RD (1987). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Gaborone, Botswana: Mokwepa Consultants. 295 pp. ISBN   978-9991201139. (Monopeltis sphenorhynchus mauricei, p. 140).
• Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (289): 1–130. (Monopeltis sphenorhynchus, p. 37).
• Parker HW (1935). "A new species of Amphisbænid Lizard from Bechuanaland". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Tenth Series15: 582–583. (Monopeltis mauricei, new species).
• Peters W (1879). "Über die Amphisbaenen und eine zu denselben gehörige neue Art (Lepidosternon Wuchereri)". Monatsberichte der Königlich preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin1879: 273–277. (Monopeltis sphenorhynchus, new species, p. 275). (in German).