''Scelotes duttoni'' 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
lizard in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Scincidae. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to the
Bazaruto Archipelago
The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. It comprises the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise Island) and Shell. Nyati Island ...
in
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 ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''duttoni'', is in honor of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
n ecologist Paul Dutton.
[ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Scelotes duttoni'', p. 78).]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of ''S. duttoni'' is the
supralittoral zone and dunes, at altitudes of .
Description
''S. duttoni'' has no front legs, only vestigial buds. Each back leg has only two digits, the inner digit much longer than the outer.
[ Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of .][ The tail length is slightly shorter than (SVL). ]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 ...
, ''S. duttoni'' is blackish, with a pale dorsolateral line on each side.[
]
Reproduction
''S. duttoni'' is ovoviviparous
Ovoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous and live-bearing viviparous reproduction. Ovoviviparous animals possess embryos that develop insi ...
.[ Litter size is two or three young. Each newborn measures in total length (including tail).][ 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. . (''Scelotes duttoni'', p. 144).]
References
Further reading
* Broadley DG (1990). "The herpetofaunas of the islands off the coast of South Moçambique". ''Arnoldia (Zimbabwe)'' 9 (35): 469–493. (''Scelotes duttoni'', new species).
*Broadley DG (1994). "The genus ''Scelotes'' Fitzinger (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Mozambique, Swaziland and Natal, South Africa". ''Annals of the Natal Museum'' 35: 237–259.
duttoni
Reptiles of Mozambique
Endemic fauna of Mozambique
Reptiles described in 1990
Taxa named by Donald George Broadley
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