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Mochlus pembanus (BOETTGER, 1913)

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Higher TaxaScincidae, Lygosominae (Lygosomini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Pemba Island Writhing Skink 
SynonymLygosoma (Riopa) pembanum BOETTGER 1913: 350
Riopa pembanum — MOREAU & PAKENHAM 1941: 108
Riopa pembanum — LOVERIDGE 1942: 349
Riopa pembana LOVERIDGE· 1957: 216
Lygosoma pembanum — BROADLEY & HOWELL 1991: 16
Lygosoma pembanum — SPAWLS & ROTICH 1997
Lygosoma pembanum — SPAWLS et al. 2002: 144
Mochlus pembanum — MALONZA et al. 2017
Mochlus pembanum — SPAWLS et al. 2018: 153 
DistributionPemba Island and coastal Kenya (probably introduced fide BROADLEY & HOWELL 1991)

Type locality: Pemba Island.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesLectotype: SMF 15436 (= 6305 1a in Mertens, 1922) 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Lower eyelid scaly, pterygoid teeth absent; frontoparietals paired; supranasal fused with anterior half of a divided nasal shield; prefrontals normally fused with the frontonasal; digits pentadactyle; dorsal scales smooth; 24-26 mic;lbody scale rows; three (rarely 2) supralabials anterior to subocular; a very small triangular lobule on anterior border of ear opening; 13:mellae beneath fourth toe seven to ten, beneath fifth toe five, beneath fourth finger six or seven (the reduction in number is due to the elongation of some lamellae). Maximum recorded snout-vent length 89 mm. Dark brown above with numerous blackish longitudinal streaks corresponding to dorsal scale rows, flanks with more numerous dark streaks and pale spots, pale stippling on labials and side of neck. Ventrum white. 
Comment 
EtymologyNamed after the type locality. 
References
  • Boettger, O. 1913. Reptilien und Amphibien von Madagascar, den Inseln und dem Festland Ostafrikas. Pp. 269-375. In: Voeltzkow, A. Reise in Ostafrika in den Jahren 1903-1905. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse. Vol. 3. Systematische Arbeiten. Schweizerbart’ sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Nägele und Sproesser, Stuttgart - get paper here
  • Broadley, D G. 1994. A review of Lygosoma Hardwicke and Gray 1827 (Reptilia Scincidae) on the East African Coast, with the description of a new species. Tropical Zoology 7 (1): 217-222. - get paper here
  • Broadley, D. G. & HOWELL, K. M. 1991. A check list of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys. Syntarsus 1: 1—70
  • Hawlitschek, O.; F. Glaw & D. Rödder 2012. Pemba – Herpetologische Fundgrube im Indischen Ozean. Reptilia (Münster) 17 (97): 97-109 - get paper here
  • Malonza, Patrick K.; David M. Mulwa, Joash O. Nyamache, Georgina Jones 2017. Biogeography of the Shimba Hills ecosystem herpetofauna in Kenya. Zoological Research 38(5): 1-11 - get paper here
  • Spawls, S. & Rotich, D. 1997. An annotated checklist of the lizards of Kenya. J. East African Nat. Hist. 86: 61-83
  • Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Drewes, R.C. & Ashe, J. 2002. A field guide to the reptiles of East Africa. Academic Press, 543 pp. [reviews in HR 34: 396 and Afr. J. Herp. 51; 147] - get paper here
  • Spawls, Steve; Kim Howell, Harald Hinkel, Michele Menegon 2018. Field Guide to East African Reptiles. Bloomsbury, 624 pp. - get paper here
 
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