Kalahari worm lizard
Species of amphisbaenian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kalahari worm lizard (Monopeltis leonhardi), also known commonly as the Kalahari spade-snouted worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is indigenous to southern Africa.
| Kalahari worm lizard | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Clade: | Amphisbaenia |
| Family: | Amphisbaenidae |
| Genus: | Monopeltis |
| Species: | M. leonhardi |
| Binomial name | |
| Monopeltis leonhardi F. Werner, 1910 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Etymology
The specific name, leonhardi, is in honor of German ethnographer Leonhard Schultze-Jena.[2]
Geographic range
M. leonhardi is found in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.[1]
Habitat
Description
M. leonhardi is purplish pink dorsally, and pinkish ventrally. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in). The maximum recorded SVL is 29 cm (11 in).[3]
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of M. leonhardi is unknown.[1]
