Monopeltis sphenorhynchus

Monopeltis sphenorhynchus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Amphisbaenidae
Genus:	Monopeltis
Species:	M. sphenorhynchus
Binomial name
	Monopeltis sphenorhynchus; W. Peters, 1879
Synonyms
	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]

Parker, 1935
Monopeltis sphenorhynchus sphenorhynchus W. Peters, 1879

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Monopeltis sphenorhynchus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.
^ 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).
^ ^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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[RDB-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).

[Bill-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).

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