Monopeltis capensis

Monopeltis capensis, also known commonly as the Cape spade-snouted worm lizard, the Cape wedge-snouted worm lizard, the Cape worm lizard, and the South African shield-snouted amphisbaenian, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Monopeltis capensis
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. capensis
Binomial name
Monopeltis capensis A. Smith, 1848
Synonyms[2]
Monopeltis capensis A. Smith, 1848 Monotrophis capensis — Gray, 1865 (ex errore) Lepidosternon capense — Strauch, 1881 Monopeltis capensis — Broadley, 1962

Geographic range

M. capensis is found in Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of M. capensis are grassland, shrubland, and savanna.^[1]

Description

M. capensis is uniformly pinkish white, both dorsally and ventrally. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in). The maximum recorded SVL is 34 cm (13 in).^[3]

Diet

M. capensis burrows in red soils to preys upon beetle larvae, termites, and other small invertebrates.^[3]

Reproduction

M. capensis is viviparous.^[2] A brood of 1–3 is born in summer. Each neonate has a total length (including tail) of 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in).^[3]