Lindi sharp-snouted worm lizard

{{Short description|Species of amphisbaenian}}

{{speciesbox

| status = DD

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Msuya, C.A. |author2=Ngalason, W. |author3=Howell, K. |date=2014 |title=Ancylocranium barkeri |volume=2014 |page=e.T20878063A20878067 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T20878063A20878067.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

| genus = Ancylocranium

| species = barkeri

| authority = Loveridge, 1946

| subdivision =

}}

The Lindi sharp-snouted worm lizard (Ancylocranium barkeri), also known commonly as Barker's sharp-snouted worm lizard, 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=barkeri|accessdate=24 February 2019}}

Etymology

The specific name, barkeri is in honor of New Zealander zoologist Ronald de la Bere Barker (1889–?).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 barkeri, p. 17).

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. barkeri is sandy areas, at altitudes of {{convert|800|–|1,000|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Diet

A. barkeri preys upon termites and other small invertebrates.

Reproduction

A. barkeri is oviparous. Clutch size is a single egg.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • Gans C (2005). "Checklist and Bibliography of the Amphisbaenia of the World". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (289): 1–130. (Ancylocranium barkeri, p. 22).
  • Loveridge A (1946). "A New Worm-Lizard (Ancylocranium barkeri) from Tanganyika Territory". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 59: 73–75. (Ancylocranium barkeri, new species).
  • Loveridge A (1962). "New Worm-Lizards (Ancylocranium and Amphisbaena) from Southeastern Tanganyika Territory". Breviora (163): 1–6. (Ancylocranium barkeri newalae, new subspecies, pp. 1–3).
  • 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 barkeri, p. 323).

{{Taxonbar|from=Q428730}}

Category:Ancylocranium

Category:Reptiles described in 1946

Category:Endemic fauna of Tanzania

Category:Reptiles of Tanzania

Category:Taxa named by Arthur Loveridge

{{Amphisbaenidae-stub}}