Vivariums;reptiles;Other skinks 9

Videos :

3 - Acontias species :

Acontias is a genus of limbless skinks, the lance skinks, (family Scincidae) in the African subfamily Acontinae.[1] Most are small animals, but the largest member of the genus is Acontias plumbeus at approximately 40 cm (16 in) snout-vent length.[1] All members of this genus are live-bearing, sandswimmers, with fused eyelids. A recent review [2] moved species that were formerly placed in the generaTyphlosaurus, Acontophiops, and Microacontias into this genus, as together these form a single branch in the tree of life. This new concept of Acontias is a sister lineage to Typhlosaurus, and these two genera are the only genera within the subfamily Acontinae.[2]

Species :

These 21 species are recognized:

Acontias aurantiacus (W. Peters, 1854)
Acontias bicolor (Hewitt, 1929)
Acontias breviceps Essex, 1925 – shorthead lance skink
Acontias cregoi (Boulenger, 1903)
Acontias gariepensis (V. FitzSimons, 1941)
Acontias gracilicauda Essex, 1925
Acontias jappi (Broadley, 1968)
Acontias kgalagadi (Lamb, Biswas & Bauer, 2010)
Acontias lineatus W. Peters, 1879
Acontias litoralis Broadley & Greer, 1969
Acontias meleagris (Linnaeus, 1758) – Cape legless skink
Acontias namaquensis Hewitt, 1938
Acontias occidentalis V. FitzSimons, 1941
Acontias orientalis Hewitt, 1938
Acontias percivali Loveridge, 1935 – Percival's lance skink
Acontias plumbeus Bianconi, 1849
Acontias poecilus Bourquin & Lambiris, 1996
Acontias richardi (Jacobsen, 1987)
Acontias rieppeli (Lamb, Biswas & Bauer, 2010)
Acontias schmitzi Wagner, Broadley & Bauer, 2012
Acontias tristis F. Werner, 1910

Examples :

- Acontias breviceps :

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acontias breviceps, the shorthead lance skink, is a viviparous, legless, fossorial lizard occurring along the southern and eastern sections of the Great Escarpment in South Africa. It may grow up to 10 cm long.

This skink was first collected in 1925 by Robert Essex at Hogsback in the Amatola Mountains in the Eastern Cape at an elevation of some 6000 ft. A disjunct second population exist in the Transvaal Drakensberg. Essex collected for the Albany Museum of Grahamstown, but a fire in 1941 destroyed most specimens and records.[2]

Synonyms

Acontias plumbeus brevicepsFitzsimons, 1943

Shorthead lance skink

Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Family:Scincidae

Genus:Acontias

Species:A. breviceps

Binomial name:

Acontias breviceps
Essex, 1925

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Photos :

Other Websites :

- www.iucnredlist.org/details/178472/0

- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Acontias&species=breviceps

- www.inaturalist.org/taxa/37308-Acontias-breviceps

- www.tyroneping.co.za/lizards/acontias-breviceps/

- www.ispotnature.org/species-dictionaries/sanbi/Acontias%20breviceps

- Acontias gracilicauda :

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acontias gracilicauda, the slendertail lance skink, is a species of skink found in the Republic of South Africa. Specifically, its range is Little Namaqualand, East Cape and South Transvaal. It has no limbs, like most members of the subfamily Acontinae.[1]

Acontias gracilicauda

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Family:Scincidae

Genus:Acontias

Species:A. gracilicauda

Binomial name:

Acontias gracilicauda
(Essex, 1925)[1]

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Photos :

Other Websites :

- www.iucnredlist.org/details/178460/0

- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Acontias&species=gracilicauda

- Acontias meleagris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acontias meleagris, the Cape legless skink, is a species of skink found in the southern Cape of South Africa. It has no limbs, like most members of the subfamily Acontinae.[1]

Its slender, tube-shaped body is golden-brown with tiny black spots. These spots fuse into longitudinal stripes in some specimens. It is usually found burrowing in dry sand as well as beneath boulders, dead trees and other detritus. It gives birth to two to four young in summer.

Acontias meleagris

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Family:Scincidae

Genus:Acontias

Species:A. meleagris

Binomial name:

Acontias meleagris
(Linnaeus, 1758)

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Video : ( General)

Giant Acontias（Acontias plumbeus）

Photos :

- Acontias percivali ( The most Common and popular species among the hobbyists )

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

contias percivali, also known as Percival's legless lizard, Tanzanian legless lizard, and Percival's lance skink, is a small, legless (snake-like) species of lizard in the family Scincidae, collectively known as "skinks".

Acontias percivali

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Family:Scincidae

Genus:Acontias

Species:A. percivali

Binomial name:

Acontias percivali
Loveridge, 1935

Etymology :

The specific name, percivali, is in honor of British naturalist Arthur Blayney Percival (1874–1940), who was a game warden in East Africa.[1]

Geographic range :

The geographic range of A. percivali is limited to continental Africa and includes regions of Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.[2]

Habitat :

Percival's lance skink inhabits savannas by burrowing just below the surface of the soil.

Subspecies :

The three subspecies of A. percivali are:

A. p. occidentalis V. FitzSimons, 1941
A. p. percivali Loveridge, 1935
A. p. tasmani Hewitt, 1938

A. p. occidentalis has been considered a full species by Lamb et al. (2010) and by Wagner et al. (2012).

A. p. tasmani may be a subspecies of Acontias meleagris as seen after DNA sequencing tests.[citation needed]

Description :

Percival's lance skink can be identified by its copper-brown back and gold underside. It is an insectivores that specializes in feeding on beetle larvae, earthworms, and other slow-moving invertebrates.

Reproduction :

A. percivali is ovoviviparous and has one to five young at a time.

As pets:

Although this animal is poorly understood, it is occasionally seen in pet shops. Most Acontias specimens in the pet trade are wild-collected. In captivity, they require a deep layer of sandy substrate and hollow hiding places on the surface. Captive breeding may be possible, but currently has not been accomplished commercially.

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Photos :

Spinal Posture & A Legless Lizard: SciShow Talk Show #13

The Legless Lizard

Building A Vivarium For A Legless Lizard (Acontias percivali)

3 Cool Facts about Legless Lizards | Pet Reptiles

Other websites :

- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Acontias&species=percivali

- www.iucnredlist.org/details/44960134/0

- www.iherp.com/Answers/ReptileProblem.aspx?Id=42665

- Acontias percivali

courtesy to : megazoo.at/terraristik/

Habitat : savannah

humidity : 30-50%

Final size : Up to 15cm

Terrarium size : From 60 x 40 x 40 cm

temperature : 20-25 ° C

Food : Insect larvae

attitude : Couple, harem

origin : Africa

Acontias percivali is a skink occurring in the southern countries of Africa, which is predominantly in the sand, falconry or deadwood.The terrarium should have at least 5cm high loose, digestive and absorbent substrate. The animals like to dig and spend the most of the time hiding. The temperatures are typically between 20 and 25 ° C, with a slight night reduction. The terrarium should be decorated with roots or stems and a water bowl. Conventional daylight lamps suffice as lighting. Flourworms and other small insect larvae are accepted as food. The size of the enclosure depends on the head-end (KRL) of the largest animal and applies to 1-2 animals. The dimensions of the enclosure should be 6x4x4 KRL of the animal. Each additional animal needs 20% additional space. Acontias percivali is notifiable!