Kilwa sharp-snouted worm lizard

Kilwa sharp-snouted worm lizard
Conservation status
	; Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Clade:	Amphisbaenia
Family:	Amphisbaenidae
Genus:	Ancylocranium
Species:	A. ionidesi
Binomial name
	Ancylocranium ionidesi; Loveridge, 1955

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]

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

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ancylocranium ionidesi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.
^ 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).

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).