The helmeted worm lizard (Monopeltis galeata) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to the west coast of Central Africa.

Helmeted worm lizard
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Amphisbaenidae
Genus: Monopeltis
Species:
M. galeata
Binomial name
Monopeltis galeata
(Hallowell, 1852)
Synonyms[1]
  • Phractogonus galeatus
    Hallowell, 1852
  • Monopeltis (Phractogonus) magnipartitus
    W. Peters, 1879
  • Lepidosternon galeatum
    Strauch, 1881
  • Lepidosternon dumerilii
    Strauch, 1881
  • Monopeltis galeata
    Boulenger, 1885
  • Monopeltis unirostralis
    Mocquard, 1903
  • Monopeltis boveei
    Mocquard, 1903

Geographic range edit

M. galeata is found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Corisco Island), and Gabon.[1]

Description edit

M. galeata may attain a snout-to-vent length of 46.5 cm (18.3 in), with a tail 3.5 cm (1.4 in) long. Specimens preserved in alcohol are whitish, both dorsally and ventrally.[2]

Reproduction edit

The mode of reproduction of M. galeata is unknown.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Monopeltis galeata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.
  2. ^ Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Amphisbænidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (Monopeltis galeata, p. 457).

Further reading edit

  • Branch WR, Pauwels OSG, Burger M (2003). "Re-discovery of Cynisca bifrontalis in Gabon, with additional notes on Monopeltis galeata (Reptilia: Amphisbaenia)". African Journal of Herpetology 52 (2): 93–100.
  • Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (289): 1–130. (Monopeltis galeata, p. 35).
  • Hallowell E (1852). "Description of new species of Reptilia from Western Africa". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 6: 62–65. (Phractogonus galeatus, new species, pp. 62–63, four unnumbered figures).
  • Hallowell E (1857). " Notice of a collection of Reptiles from the Gaboon country, West Africa, recently presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Dr. Henry A. Ford". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 9: 48–72. (Phractogonus galeatus, p. 50).