The Lualaba worm lizard (Monopeltis adercae) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1]

Lualaba worm lizard
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Amphisbaenidae
Genus: Monopeltis
Species:
M. adercae
Binomial name
Monopeltis adercae
de Witte, 1953

Etymology

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The specific name, adercae, is in honor of Bernard Max Aderca, who was a Belgian geologist and paleontologist.[2]

Geographic range

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M. adercae is found in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the vicinity of Mulongo. The holotype was collected at an elevation of 617 m (2,024 ft).[1]

Description

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The holotype of M. adercae has a total length of 360 mm (14 in), which includes a tail 57 mm (2.2 in) long. The diameter of the body is 9 mm (0.35 in).[3]

Reproduction

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c Monopeltis adercae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.
  2. ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Monopeltis adercae, p. 2).
  3. ^ de Witte (1953).

Further reading

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  • De Witte G-F (1953). "Exploration du Parc National de l'Upemba. Mission G. F. de Witte en collaboration avec W. Adams, A. Janssens, L. van Meel et R. Verheyen (1946–1949). Reptiles ". Institut des Parcs Nationaux du Congo Belge (Brussels) 6: 1–322. ("Monopeltis adercæ", new species, pp. 82–83, Figures 16A–16D). (in French).
  • Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (289): 1–130. (Monopeltis adercae, p. 34).