Melanoseps loveridgei

Melanoseps loveridgei
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Melanoseps
Species:	M. loveridgei
Binomial name
	Melanoseps loveridgei; Brygoo & Roux-Estève, 1982

Melanoseps loveridgei, also known commonly as Loveridge's limbless skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae. The species is native to East Africa.

Description

Relatively large for its genus, Melanoseps loveridgei may attain a total length (tail included) of 16 cm (6.3 in). The tail length is about 25% of the total length. There are 18 scale rows around the body at midbody. Coloration is gray or black dorsally and lighter ventrally.^[2]^: 173

Geographic range

Melanoseps loveridgei is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo,^[1] Malawi,^[1] Mozambique,^[1] Tanzania,^[1]^[3] and Zambia.^[1]^[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Melanoseps loveridgei are forest and savanna.^[1]

Behavior

Melanoseps loveridgei is terrestrial and fossorial.^[1]

Reproduction

The mode of reproduction of Melanoseps loveridgei has been variously described as being viviparous^[1] and as being ovoviviparous.^[3]

Etymology

The specific name, loveridgei, is in honor of British herpetologist Arthur Loveridge.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Wagner, P.; Branch, W.R.; Safari, I.; Chenga, J. (2021). "Melanoseps loveridgei ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T16393965A16393974. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T16393965A16393974.en. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
^ Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Hinkel, H.; Menegon, M. (2018). A Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Wildlife. ISBN 978-1-399-40481-5. 624 pp.
^ ^a ^b ^c Melanoseps loveridgei at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 October 2020.
^ 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. (Melanoseps loveridgei, p. 161).

Broadley, D.G.; Howell, K.M. (1991). "A check list of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys". Syntarsus. 1: 1–70. (Melanoseps loveridgei, p. 14).
Brygoo, E.-R.; Roux-Estève, R. (1982). "Un genre de lézards scincines d'Afrique: Melanoseps". Bulletin du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, 4e Série, Section A, Zoologie, Biologie et Écologie animales. 3 (4): 1169–1191. (Melanoseps loveridgei, new species, p. 1183). (in French).
Pietersen, D.W.; Verburgt, L.; Davies, J.P. (2021). Snakes and other Reptiles of Zambia and Malawi. Cape Town: Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 978-1775847373. 376 pp.
Williams, E.E. (1982). "Arthur Loveridge — A Life in Retrospect". Breviora (471): 1–12.

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[iucn-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Wagner, P.; Branch, W.R.; Safari, I.; Chenga, J. (2021). "Melanoseps loveridgei ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T16393965A16393974. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T16393965A16393974.en. Retrieved 6 March 2025.

[2] Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Hinkel, H.; Menegon, M. (2018). A Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Wildlife. ISBN 978-1-399-40481-5. 624 pp.

[RDB-3] Melanoseps loveridgei at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 October 2020.

[4] 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. (Melanoseps loveridgei, p. 161).

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