Scelotes duttoni

Scelotes duttoni
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Scelotes
Species:	S. duttoni
Binomial name
	Scelotes duttoni; Broadley, 1990

Last updated October 06, 2025

Scelotes duttoni is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique.^[1]^[2]

Etymology

The specific name, duttoni, is in honor of South African ecologist Paul Dutton.^[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of S. duttoni is the supralittoral zone and dunes, at altitudes of 1–25 m (3.3–82.0 ft).^[1]

Description

S. duttoni has no front legs, only vestigial buds. Each back leg has only two digits, the inner digit much longer than the outer.^[2] Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in).^[4] The tail length is slightly shorter than (SVL). Dorsally, S. duttoni is blackish, with a pale dorsolateral line on each side.^[2]

Reproduction

S. duttoni is ovoviviparous.^[2] Litter size is two or three young. Each newborn measures 4.5–5.0 cm (1.8–2.0 in) in total length (including tail).^[4]

References

1 2 3 Conradie, W.; Verburgt, L.; Farooq, H.; Tolley, K.A.; Alexander, G.J.; Raimundo, A.; Sardinha, C.I.V. (2019). "Scelotes duttoni ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019 e.T44979096A44979104. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44979096A44979104.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
1 2 3 4 Scelotes duttoni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 20 October 2020.
↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Scelotes duttoni, p. 78).
1 2 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. (Scelotes duttoni, p. 144).

Broadley DG (1990). "The herpetofaunas of the islands off the coast of South Moçambique". Arnoldia (Zimbabwe)9 (35): 469–493. (Scelotes duttoni, new species).
Broadley DG (1994). "The genus Scelotes Fitzinger (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Mozambique, Swaziland and Natal, South Africa". Annals of the Natal Museum35: 237–259.

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[iucn_status_18_November_2021-1] 1 2 3 Conradie, W.; Verburgt, L.; Farooq, H.; Tolley, K.A.; Alexander, G.J.; Raimundo, A.; Sardinha, C.I.V. (2019). "Scelotes duttoni ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019 e.T44979096A44979104. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44979096A44979104.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.

[RDB-2] 1 2 3 4 Scelotes duttoni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 20 October 2020.

[3] Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Scelotes duttoni, p. 78).

[Bill-4] 1 2 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. (Scelotes duttoni, p. 144).

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