Kilwa sharp-snouted worm lizard

The Kilwa sharp-snouted worm lizard (Ancylocranium ionidesi) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania. There are two recognized subspecies.[2]

Kilwa sharp-snouted worm lizard
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Amphisbaenidae
Genus: Ancylocranium
Species:
A. ionidesi
Binomial name
Ancylocranium ionidesi
Loveridge, 1955

Etymology

The specific name, ionidesi, is in honor of British game warden Constantine John Philip Ionides (1901–1968), who was known as the "Snake Man of British East Africa".[3]

Geographic range

A. ionidesi is found in southeastern Tanzania.[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. ionidesi is forest, at altitudes around 500 m (1,600 ft).[1]

Behavior

A. ionidesi is terrestrial and fossorial.[1]

Diet

A. ionidesi preys upon small invertebrates such as termites.[1]

Reproduction

A. ionidesi is oviparous.[2] Clutch size is one egg.[1]

Subspecies

There are two subspecies that are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Ancylocranium ionidesi haasi Gans & Kochva, 1966
  • Ancylocranium ionidesi ionidesi Loveridge, 1955

References
  1. Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W.; Howell, K. (2014). "Ancylocranium ionidesi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T20878073A20878077. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T20878073A20878077.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Ancylocranium ionidesi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ancylcranium ionidesi, p. 130).

Further reading
  • Broadley DG, Howell KM (1991). "A check list of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys". Syntarsus 1: 1–70. (Ancylocranium ionidesi haasi and Ancylocranium ionidesi ionidesi, p. 20).
  • Gans C, Kochva E (1966) ("1965"). "A systematic review of Ancylocranium (Amphisbaenia: Reptilia)". [Notes on amphisbaenids 22]. Israel Journal of Zoology 14: 87–121. (Ancylocranium ionidesi haasi, new subspecies).
  • Loveridge A (1955). "On a second collection of reptiles and amphibians taken in Tanganyika Territory by C. J. P. Ionides". Journal of the East African Natural History Society 22: 168–198. (Ancylocranium ionidesi, new species, pp. 169, 177–179).
  • Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury Natural History. 624 pp. ISBN 978-1472935618. (Ancylocranium ionidesi, p. 324).



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