Monopeltis sphenorhynchus

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Monopeltis sphenorhynchus
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
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
    — , 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]

Subspecies[]

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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[]

  • (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 Series 15: 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 Berlin 1879: 273–277. (Monopeltis sphenorhynchus, new species, p. 275). (in German).



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