Slender Worm Lizard
( Slender Spade-snouted Worm Lizard, Maurice's slender worm lizard, Maurice's spade-snouted worm lizard )
- Monopeltis sphenorhynchus
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Threat: unconfirmed
- Venom/Toxin: none
- Trend: stable
General Information
Slender worm lizard (Monopeltis sphenorhynchus) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae.
The species is native to southern Africa. There are two recognized subspecies.
Description
Slender and medium-sized for the genus, adults of M. sphenorhynchus usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 20–30 cm. The maximum recorded SVL is 32.5 cm. The body is uniformly pink, both dorsally and ventrally.
Ecology & Behaviour
This is a fossorial species from deep Kalahari sands or coastal alluvium soils (Branch 1998).
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of M. sphenorhynchus is unknown.
Distribtion & Habitat
This species has been recorded fairly widely in southern Africa, where it is reported from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique.
The preferred natural habitats of M. sphenorhynchus are deep sand and alluvial soil.
References
Share:
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Amphisbaenidae
- Genus: Monopeltis
