Liwale round-snouted worm lizard | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Amphisbaenidae |
Genus: | Loveridgea |
Species: | L. ionidesii
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Binomial name | |
Loveridgea ionidesii (
Battersby, 1950)
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Synonyms [2] | |
The Liwale round-snouted worm lizard (Loveridgea ionidesii) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania. [2]
The specific name, ionidesii, 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]
The preferred natural habitat of L. ionidesii is savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft). [1]
Medium-sized for an amphisbaenian, L. ionidesii is 8–18 cm (3.1–7.1 in) in snout-to-vent length (SVL). [2]
L. ionidesii is diurnal, terrestrial, and fossorial. [1]
L. ionidesii gives birth to live young, and its mode of reproduction has been called viviparous [1] or ovoviviparous. [2] Litter size is two. [1]