Sundevall’s Writhing Skink
( Peters' eyelid skink or Peters' writhing skink )
- Mochlus sundevallii
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Threat: harmless
- Venom/Toxin: none
- Trend: stable
General Information
Sundevall’s writhing skink (Mochlus sundevallii) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Description
M. sundevallii usually has a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 6–8 cm, but may grow to almost 9 cm SVL. Dorsally, it is grayish or light brown, with dark brown speckling. Ventrally, it is uniformly cream-colored, except for the underside of the tail, which may have speckling.
Diet
It is known to be preyed on by the Cape Wolf Snake.
Reproduction
M. sundevallii is oviparous.
Distribtion & Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of M. sundevallii are shrubland, savanna, and forest, at altitudes from sea level to 2,000 m.
M. sundevallii is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Reptile Database also lists Central African Republic, Sudan, and possibly South Sudan.
References
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- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Scincidae
- Genus: Mochlus
