The Western Congo worm lizard (Monopeltis guentheri) is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Etymology
The specific name, guentheri, is in honor of German-born British herpetologist Albert Günther.
Geographic range
M. guentheri is found in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of M. guentheri is forest.
Description
M. guentheri may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of , with a tail length of . It has 250âÂÂ254 annuli on the body.
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of M. guentheri is unknown.
References
Further reading
- Boettger O (1887). "Diagnoses Reptilium Novorum ab ill. viro Paul Hesse in finibus fluminis Congo repertorum ". Zoologischer Anzeiger 10: 649âÂÂ651. (Monopeltis boulengeri, new species, p. 649). (in Latin).
- Boudzoumou, Sylvestre; Hoops, Daniel Hoops; ; Jackson, Kate (2013). "Morphologogical variation in Monopeltis guentheri from forest habitat in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae)" African Journal of Herpetology 62 (2): 117âÂÂ124. (in English, with an abstract in French).
- 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 IâÂÂXXIV. (Monopeltis guentheri, new species, pp. 456âÂÂ457 + Plate XXIV, figures 3aâÂÂ3d).
- Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (129): 1âÂÂ130. (Monopeltis guentheri, p. 35).
- Gans, Carl; (1971). "Redescription and Geographical Variation of Monopeltis guentheri Boulenger (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia)". American Museum Novitates (2464): 1âÂÂ20.