Biology:Scelotes duttoni

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Short description: Species of reptile

Scelotes duttoni
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Scelotes
Species:
S. duttoni
Binomial name
Scelotes duttoni
Broadley, 1990

Scelotes duttoni is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique.[1][2]

Etymology

The specific name, duttoni, is in honor of South Africa n ecologist Paul Dutton.[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of S. duttoni is the supralittoral zone and dunes, at altitudes of 1–25 m (3.3–82.0 ft).[1]

Description

S. duttoni has no front legs, only vestigial buds. Each back leg has only two digits, the inner digit much longer than the outer.[2] Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in).[4] The tail length is slightly shorter than (SVL). Dorsally, S. duttoni is blackish, with a pale dorsolateral line on each side.[2]

Reproduction

S. duttoni is ovoviviparous.[2] Litter size is two or three young. Each newborn measures 4.5–5.0 cm (1.8–2.0 in) in total length (including tail).[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named iucn status 18 November 2021
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Scelotes duttoni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 October 2020.
  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. (Scelotes duttoni, p. 78).
  4. 4.0 4.1 Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN:0-88359-042-5. (Scelotes duttoni, p. 144).

Further reading

  • Broadley DG (1990). "The herpetofaunas of the islands off the coast of South Moçambique". Arnoldia (Zimbabwe) 9 (35): 469–493. (Scelotes duttoni, new species).
  • Broadley DG (1994). "The genus Scelotes Fitzinger (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Mozambique, Swaziland and Natal, South Africa". Annals of the Natal Museum 35: 237–259.


Wikidata ☰ Q5121751 entry