Kilwa sharp-snouted worm lizard

{{Speciesbox

| status = DD

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Msuya, C.A. |author-link=species:Charles Andekia Msuya |author2=Ngalason, W. |author2-link=species:Wilirk Ngalason |author3=Howell, K. |author3-link=species:Kim Monroe Howell |date=2014 |title=Ancylocranium ionidesi |volume=2014 |page=e.T20878073A20878077 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T20878073A20878077.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}

| genus = Ancylocranium

| species = ionidesi

| authority = Loveridge, 1955

| subdivision =

}}

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.{{NRDB species|genus=Ancylocranium|species=ionidesi|access-date=24 February 2019}}

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".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).

Geographic range

A. ionidesi is found in southeastern Tanzania.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. ionidesi is forest, at altitudes around {{cvt|500|m|ft}}.

Behavior

A. ionidesi is terrestrial and fossorial.

Diet

A. ionidesi preys upon small invertebrates such as termites.

Reproduction

A. ionidesi is oviparous. Clutch size is one egg.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies that are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

Ancylocranium ionidesi haasi {{small|Gans & Kochva, 1966}}
Ancylocranium ionidesi ionidesi {{small|Loveridge, 1955}}