Eumecia anchietae

Eumecia anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's serpentiform skink, Anchieta's snake skink, and the western serpentiform skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.

Eumecia anchietae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Eumecia
Species:
E. anchietae
Binomial name
Eumecia anchietae
Bocage, 1870
Synonyms[2]
  • Eumecia anchietae
    Bocage, 1870
  • Lygosoma (Riopa) anchietae
    — Boulenger, 1887
  • Lygosoma anchietae
    — Sternfeld, 1911
  • Riopa (Eumecia) anchietae
    — M.A. Smith, 1937
  • Riopa anchietae
    — Loveridge, 1953
  • Eumecia anchietae
    — Laurent 1964

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

E. anchietae is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.[1][2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of E. anchietae are grassland and savanna at altitudes of 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft).[1]

Description

The limbs of E. anchietae are very reduced. The front legs are minute, each with two toes. The hind legs are twice as large (but still very small), each with three toes. The body and tail are subcylindrical and elongate.[4]

Behavior

E. anchietae is diurnal and terrestrial.[1]

Reproduction

E. anchietae is viviparous.[2]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Eumecia anchietae anchietae Bocage, 1870
  • Eumecia anchietae major Laurent, 1964 – Lunda western snake skink
  • Eumecia anchietae wittei Laurent, 1964

References
  1. Spawls S, Malonza PK, Beraducci J, Verburgt L, Pietersen D (2020). "Eumeces anchietae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T44978884A44978889. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T44978884A44978889.en. Downloaded on 13 April 2021.
  2. Eumecia anchietae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 September 2019.
  3. Beolens B, Watkins, Grayson (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Eumecia anchietae, p. 8).
  4. Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. ... Scincidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I–XL. (Lygosoma anchietæ, pp. 316–317).

Further reading
  • Bocage JVB (1870). "Description d'un Saurien nouveau de l'Afrique occidentale ". Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas Physicas e Naturaes, Academia Real das Sciencias de Lisboa 3: 66–68 + Plate I. (Eumecia anchietae, new species, pp. 67–68 + Plate I, figures 1–5). (in French).
  • Laurent RF (1964). "Reptiles et batraciens de l'Angola (troisième contribution)". Companhia de Diamantes de Angola (DIAMANG), Serviços Culturais, Museu do Dundo (Angola) 67: 1–165. (Eumecia anchietae major, new subspecies, p. 80; E. a. wittei, new subspecies, p. 80). (in French).
  • Spawls S, Howell K, Henkel H, Menegon M (2018). Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury Natural History. 624 pp. ISBN 978-1472935618. (Eumecia anchietae, p. 130).


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