MARQUES ET AL.; AMPHIBIANS AND TERRESTRIAL REPTILES OF ANGOLA 
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it as A. occidentalis FitzSimons, 1941. Acontias occidentalis was previously considered a sub¬ 
species of A. percivali Loveridge, 1935. Based on molecular phylogenetic studies the two are close¬ 
ly related (Daniels et al. 2006), but considered specifically distinct (Lamb et al. 2010). 
Genus Eumecia Bocage, 1870 
Eumecia anchietae anchietae Bocage, 1870 Western Serpentieorm Skink 
Eumecia Anchietae Bocage 1870:66, pi. 1. Holotype: MBL specimen number unnkown (collector J.A. 
d’Anchieta) destroyed by fire 18 March 1978. Type locality: “le plateau de la Huilla dans I’interieur de 
Mossamedes” [= Huila plateau] Huila Province, Angola. 
Lygosoma anchietae'. Boulenger (1887:316), Themido (1941:8), Frade (1963:252). 
Lygosoma {Eumecia) Anchietae'. Bocage (1895a:50, 1897a: 196). 
Riopa {Eumecia) anchietae'. Smith (1937:230). 
Eumecia anchieta: Mittleman (1952:10). 
Riopa anchietae. Hellmich (1957b:58), Loveridge (1957:216). 
Eumecia anchietae'. Greer (1967:1), Broadley (1965c: 16), Spawls et al. (2004:147), Ceriaco et al. (2016a:56). 
Global conservation status (lUCN): Not Evaluated. 
Global distribution: The species is known from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, 
Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. ij.e 2 o°e 24 ''e 
Ocurrences in Angola (Map 197): The 
species occurs mainly in central-southwest 
Angola. Huambo: “Galanga” [-12.06667, 
15.15000] (Bocage 1895a:50); “Bela-Vista” 
[-12.36667, 16.20000] (Hellmich 1957b:58). 
Benguela: “Alto Cubal” [-13.03333, 
14.25000] (Hellmich 1957b:58). Huila: 
“Caconda” [-13.73333, 15.06667] (Bocage 
1895a:50; Themido 1941:8); “Huila” 
[-15.05000, 13.55000] (Bocage 1870:66, 
1895a:50, 1897a:196; Boulenger 1887:316; 
Loveridge 1957:216; Ceriaco et al. 2016a:56); 
“Kuvangu” [-14.46667, 16.30000] (Monard 
1937b:95). Cunene: “Riv. Mbale” [-15.16667, 
16.75000] (Monard 1937b:95). 
Taxonomic and distributional notes: 
Bocage (1870) described the genus Eumecia to 
emphasize similarity between this species and 
Map 197. Distribution of Eumecia anchietae anchietae 
in Angola. 
Eumeces. However, Boulenger (1887) transferred E. anchietae to Lygosoma (Gray, 1828) where it 
remained until Smith (1937) revived Eumecia for a subgenus of Riopa. Mittleman (1952) gave it a 
full generic rank in his classification, as recognized by Greer (1967) and subsequent authors, 
although Loveridge (1957) continued to use Lygosoma. Metallinou et al. (2016) demonstrated that 
Eumecia, which shows extreme matrotrophy, is sister to Lubuya ivensii, the only other African 
mabuyine skink to exhibit such a high prenatal maternal investment. 
Eumecia anchietae major Laurent, 1964 Lunda Western Serpentieorm Skink (Endemic) 
Eumecia anchietae major Laurent 1964a:80. Holotype: MD 6002 (eolleetor A. Serralheiro). Type loeality: 
“Calonda, steppe, Lunda,” Lunda Norte Provinee, Angola. 
Lygosoma anchietae'. Monard (1937b:95). 
