Monopeltis anchietae

Monopeltis anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's worm lizard, Anchieta's spade-snouted worm lizard, and the Angolan spade-snouted worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Monopeltis anchietae
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:	Monopeltis
Species:	M. anchietae
Binomial name
Monopeltis anchietae (Bocage, 1873)
Synonyms[2]
Lepidosternon (Phractogonus) anchietae Bocage, 1873 Monopeltis quadriscutata F. Werner, 1910 Monopeltis okavangensis Monard, 1931 Monopeltis devisi Monard, 1937 Monopeltis anchietae — Gans, 1967

Etymology

The specific name, anchietae, is in honor of Portuguese naturalist José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta, who was an explorer of Africa.^[3]

Geographic range

M. anchietae is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia (including the Caprivi Strip), and Zambia.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of M. anchietae is savanna, at altitudes of 500–1,200 m (1,600–3,900 ft).^[1]

Description

M. anchietae is reddish brown dorsally, and unpigmented ventrally. The head shields are yellowish tan. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in). The maximum recorded SVL is 34.5 cm (13.6 in).^[4]

Reproduction

M. anchietae is viviparous.^[2]