''Monopeltis rhodesiana'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
amphisbaenian
Amphisbaenia (called amphisbaenians or worm lizards) is a group of usually legless squamates, comprising over 200 extant species. Amphisbaenians are characterized by their long bodies, the reduction or loss of the limbs, and rudimentary eyes. As ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Amphisbaenidae
The Amphisbaenidae (common name: worm lizards) are a family of amphisbaenians, a group of limbless vertebrates.
Geographic range
Amphisbaenids occur in South America, some Caribbean islands, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomy
One deep-b ...
. The species is native to southern
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
.
Geographic range
''M. rhodesiana'' is found in southern
Malawi
Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
, central
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
, southern
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
, and northwestern
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
.
Habitat
The preferred natural
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
of ''M. rhodesiana'' is
mesic savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...
, with
alluvial soil
Alluvium (from Latin ''alluvius'', from ''alluere'' 'to wash against') is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. Alluv ...
.
[
]
Description
''M. rhodesiana'' is pinkish, both dorsally
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...
and ventrally. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of . The maximimum recorded SVL is . The tail is short, with only 5–9 caudal annuli.[ Branch, Bill (2004). ''Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. . (''Monopeltis rhodesiana'', pp. 125–126 + Plate 41).]
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of ''M. rhodesiana'' is unknown.[
]
References
Further reading
* Broadley DG (1997). "A review of the ''Monopeltis capensis'' complex in southern Africa (Reptilia: Amphisbaenidae)". ''African Journal of Herpetology'' 46 (1): 1–12.
*Broadley DG, Gans C, Visser J (1976). "Studies on Amphisbaenians (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia). 6. The Genera ''Monopeltis'' and ''Dalophia'' in Southern Africa". ''Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History'' 157: 311–486. (''Monopeltis capensis rhodesianus'', new subspecies, pp. 394–398, Figures 56–59).
*Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". ''Bull. American Mus. Nat. Hist.'' (289): 1–130. (''Monopeltis rhodesianus'', p. 37).
Monopeltis
Reptiles of Zimbabwe
Reptiles of Zambia
Reptiles of Mozambique
Reptiles of Malawi
Reptiles described in 1976
Taxa named by Donald George Broadley
Taxa named by Carl Gans
Taxa named by John Visser
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