Redescription and geographic variation of Monopeltis guentheri Boulenger (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia)

Title Variants

Alternative: Amphisbaenia

Related Titles

Series: American Museum novitates, no. 2464

By

Gans, Carl, 1923-2009
Latifi, Mahmoud, 1929-2005

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

New York, N.Y American Museum of Natural History [1971]

Notes

Title from caption.

"September 21, 1971."

"The present paper reviews all available specimens of Monopeltis guentheri Boulenger, a form that occurs at several sites in the Congo River Basin. The study confirms that Monopeltis boulengeri Boettger is a strict synonym. Minor geographical variation is described. Most important is an ontogenetic change that produces keratinization and gradual fusion of the large cephalic shields. Only a very few juvenile specimens show two discrete shields; as individuals grow, the center of the suture fuses and finally most of it is covered by a thick layer of keratin. Specimens with an autotomized and healed tail show a distally pigmented and rounded tip which is most similar to the short (nonautotomizing) tail of some other species of the genus"--P. [1].

Subjects

Amphisbaenidae , Classification , Congo (Democratic Republic) , Congo River Valley , Monopeltis guentheri , Reptiles , Variation

Call Number

QL1 .A436 no.2464, 1971

Language

English

Identifiers

OCLC: 45606275