Liwale round-snouted worm lizard

The Liwale round-snouted worm lizard (Loveridgea ionidesii) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania.^[2]

Liwale round-snouted worm lizard
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertoidea
Clade:	Amphisbaenia
Family:	Amphisbaenidae
Genus:	Loveridgea
Species:	L. ionidesii
Binomial name
Loveridgea ionidesii (Battersby, 1950)
Synonyms[2]
Amphisbaena ionidesii Battersby, 1950 Loveridgea ionedesii — Broadley & Howell, 1991

Etymology

The specific name, ionidesii, is in honor of British game warden Constantine John Philip Ionides (1901–1968), who was known as the "Snake Man of British East Africa".^[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of L. ionidesii is savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft).^[1]

Description

Medium-sized for an amphisbaenian, L. ionidesii is 8–18 cm (3.1–7.1 in) in snout-to-vent length (SVL).^[2]

Behavior

L. ionidesii is diurnal, terrestrial, and fossorial.^[1]

Reproduction

L. ionidesii gives birth to live young, and its mode of reproduction has been called viviparous^[1] or ovoviviparous.^[2] Litter size is two.^[1]