Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: September 24th, 2023.
 
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Genus
Acontias
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Greater Legless Skinks, Dart Skinks, Lance Skinks
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Lanzenskinke
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Pilskinker
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1817 |  |
Acontias Cuvier (type species: Anguis meleagris Linnaeus 1766) |
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1911 | |
Aconthophiops Sternfeld (type species: Acontophiops lineatus Sternfeld 1912; syn. Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010) |
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2006 | |
Microacontias Daniels, Heideman, Hendricks & Crandall (type species: Acontias lineatus Peters 1879; syn. Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010) |
Contents:
30 species, of which 20 (66.7%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0%  100%
Other common names:
Typhlosaurus: Blind Legless Skinks
Distribution:
S. and E. Africa.
Reported from:
Angola,
Botswana,
Eswatini,
Kenya,
Mozambique
(incl. Bazaruto Archipelago
[incl.
Benguerua,
Santa Carolina]),
Namibia,
South Africa
(Eastern Cape,
Free State,
Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
North West Province,
Northern Cape,
Western Cape),
Tanzania,
Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
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Acontias albigularis
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White-throated Legless Skink
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Weisskehliger Lanzenskink
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Hvidstrubet Pilskink
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2018 | |
Acontias albigularis Conradie, Busschau & Edwards |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a population of breviceps (e.g., Bates, Branch, Bauer, Burger, Marais, Alexander & Villiers 2014).
Distribution:
South Africa
(Mpumalanga).
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Acontias aurantiacus
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Golden Blind Legless Skink
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Goldener Lanzenskink
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Gylden Pilskink
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1854 | |
Typhline aurantiaca Peters |
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Typhlosaurus aurantiacus Peters 1882 |
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Acontias aurantiacus Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Remarks:
Previously included bazarutoensis, carolinensis, fitzsimonsi, and parietalis.
Distribution:
Mozambique,
Zimbabwe.
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Acontias bazarutoensis
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Bazaruto Blind Legless Skink
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Bazaruto-Lanzenskink
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Bazaruto-pilskink
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1990 | |
Typhlosaurus aurantiacus bazarutoensis Broadley |
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Typhlosaurus bazarutoensis Broadley 2008 |
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Acontias aurantiacus bazarutoensis Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Remarks:
Regarded as a subspecies of aurantiacus by some authors (e.g., Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010), but treated here as a separate species, following Broadley (2008).
Distribution:
Mozambique
(incl. Bazaruto Archipelago
[incl.
Benguerua]).
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Acontias bicolor
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Zimbabwe Blind Legless Skink
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Zimbabwe-Lanzenskink
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Zimbabweansk Pilskink
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1929 | |
Typhlosaurus bicolor Hewitt |
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Typhlosaurus cregoi bicolor Broadley 1968 |
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Acontias bicolor Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Distribution:
Zimbabwe.
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Acontias breviceps
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Short-headed Legless Skink
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Kurzkopf-Lanzenskink
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Korthovedet Pilskink
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1925 | |
Acontias breviceps Essex |
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Acontias plumbeus breviceps Fitzsimons 1943 |
Remarks:
Previously included the populations now assigned to albigularis and wakkerstroomensis (Conradie, Busschau & Edwards 2018).
Distribution:
South Africa
(Eastern Cape).
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Acontias carolinensis
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Santa Carolina Blind Legless Skink
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Santa-Carolina-Lanzenskink
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Santa Carolina-pilskink
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1990 | |
Typhlosaurus aurantiacus carolinensis Broadley |
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Typhlosaurus carolinensis Broadley 2008 |
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Acontias aurantiacus carolinensis Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Remarks:
Regarded as a subspecies of aurantiacus by some authors (e.g., Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010), but treated here as a separate species, following Broadley (2008).
Distribution:
Mozambique
(Bazaruto Archipelago:
Santa Carolina).
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Acontias cregoi
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Soutpansberg Blind Legless Skink, (Cregoi's Blind Legless Skink)
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Soutpansberg-Lanzenskink
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Soutpansberg-pilskink
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1903 | |
Typhlosaurus cregoi Boulenger |
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Acontias cregoi Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Remarks:
Previously included bicolor.
Distribution:
South Africa
(Limpopo).
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Acontias fitzsimonsi
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Kruger Blind Legless Skink, (Fitzsimons' Legless Skink)
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Kruger-Lanzenskink
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Kruger-pilskink
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1968 | |
Typhlosaurus aurantiacus fitzsimonsi Broadley |
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Acontias aurantiacus fitzsimonsi Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
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Acontias fitzsimonsi Bates, Branch, Bauer, Burger, Marais, Alexander & Villiers [eds.] 2014 |
Remarks:
Validity as a separate species supported by Pietersen, Scholtz & Bastos (2018).
Distribution:
South Africa
(Limpopo).
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Acontias gariepensis
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Gariep Blind Legless Skink, Mier Kalahari Legless Skink
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Gariep-Lanzenskink
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Gariep-pilskink
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1941 | |
Typhlosaurus gariepensis Fitzsimons |
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Acontias gariepensis Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Distribution:
Botswana,
Namibia,
South Africa
(Northern Cape).
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Acontias gracilicauda
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Thin-tailed Legless Skink
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Dünnschwanz-Lanzenskink
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Tyndhalet Pilskink
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1925 | |
Acontias gracilicauda Essex |
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Acontias plumbeus gracilicauda Hewitt 1937 |
Remarks:
Previously included namaquensis.
Records from Northern Cape are provisionally assigned to occidentalis, following Conradie, Busschau & Edwards (2018).
Distribution:
South Africa
(Eastern Cape,
Free State,
Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
North West Province).
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Acontias grayi
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Graafwater Legless Skink, (Gray's Dwarf Legless Skink)
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Graafwater-Lanzenskink
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Graafwater-pilskink
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1887 | |
Acontias grayi Boulenger |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of lineatus (e.g., Broadley & Greer 1969). Revalidated as a separate species by Lamb, Biswas & Bauer (2010).
Distribution:
South Africa
(Western Cape).
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Acontias jappi
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Barotseland Blind Legless Skink
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Barotseland-Lanzenskink
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Barotseland-pilskink
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1968 | |
Typhlosaurus lineatus jappi Broadley |
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Typhlosaurus jappi Schneider & Bauer 2009 |
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Acontias jappi Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Distribution:
Angola,
Zambia.
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Acontias kgalagadi
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Kgalagadi Legless Skink, (Striped Blind Legless Skink)
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Kgalagadi-Lanzenskink
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Kgalagadi-pilskink
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1887 | |
Typhlosaurus lineatus Boulenger [not Acontias lineatus Peters 1879] |
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2010 | |
Acontias kgalagadi Lamb, Biswas & Bauer [substitute name for Typhlosaurus lineatus Boulenger 1887] |
Remarks:
Previously included jappi, richardi, and subtaeniatus.
Distribution:
Angola,
Botswana,
Namibia,
South Africa
(North West Province,
Northern Cape).
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Acontias lineatus
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Striped Dwarf Legless Skink, (Striped Legless Skink)
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Gestreifter Zwerg-Lanzenskink
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Stribet Dværgpilskink
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1879 | |
Acontias lineatus Peters |
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Microacontias lineatus Daniels, Heideman, Hendricks & Crandall 2006 |
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1938 | |
Acontias lineatus orangensis Hewitt |
Remarks:
Previously included grayi and tristis.
Distribution:
Namibia,
South Africa
(Northern Cape,
Western Cape).
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Acontias lineicauda
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Algoa Legless Skink
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Schwanzstreifen-Lanzenskink
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Halestribet Pilskink
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1937 | |
Acontias meleagris lineicauda Hewitt |
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Acontias lineicauda Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Distribution:
South Africa
(Eastern Cape).
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Acontias litoralis
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Coastal Legless Skink, Coastal Dwarf Legless Skink
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Küsten-Lanzenskink
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Kyst-pilskink
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1969 | |
Acontias litoralis Broadley & Greer |
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Microacontias litoralis Daniels, Heideman, Hendricks & Crandall 2006 |
Distribution:
South Africa
(Northern Cape,
Western Cape).
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Acontias meleagris
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Cape Legless Skink
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Westlicher Kap-Lanzenskink
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Vestlig Kap-pilskink
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1766 | |
Anguis meleagris Linnaeus |
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Eryx meleagris Daudin 1803 |
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Acontias meleagris Merrem 1820 |
Remarks:
Previously included lineicauda and orientalis. Presence in the Northern Cape needs confirmation (Bates, Branch, Bauer, Burger, Marais, Alexander & Villiers [eds.] 2014).
Distribution:
South Africa
(Eastern Cape,
Western Cape).
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Acontias mukwando
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Mukwando Legless Skink, Serra da Neve Legless Skink
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Mukwando-Lanzenskink
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Mukwando-pilskink
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2023 | |
Acontias mukwando Marques, Parrinha, Tiutenko, Lopes-Lima, Bauer & Ceríaco 2023 |
Distribution:
Angola.
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Acontias namaquensis
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Namaqua Legless Skink, Namaqualand Legless Skink
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Namaqua-Lanzenskink
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Namaqua-pilskink
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1938 | |
Acontias plumbeus namaquensis Hewitt |
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Acontias namaquensis Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Distribution:
South Africa
(Northern Cape).
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Acontias occidentalis
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Western Black Legless Skink, Western Black Limbless Skink, Savanna Legless Skink
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Westlicher Schwarzer Lanzenskink
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Vestlig Sort Pilskink
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1941 | |
Acontias plumbeus occidentalis Fitzsimons |
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Acontias percivali occidentalis Broadley & Greer 1969 |
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Acontias occidentalis Griffin 2003 |
Remarks:
Lamb, Biswas & Bauer (2010) elevated occidentalis to separate species status, but already Griffin (2003) had treated it as such.
Distribution:
Angola,
Botswana,
Mozambique,
Namibia,
South Africa
(Gauteng,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
North West Province,
Northern Cape),
Zimbabwe.
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Acontias orientalis
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Eastern Cape Legless Skink
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Östlicher Kap-Lanzenskink
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Østlig Kap-pilskink
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1938 | |
Acontias meleagris orientalis Hewitt |
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Acontias orientalis Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
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1938 | |
Acontias plumbeus tasmani Hewitt (Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010) |
Distribution:
South Africa
(Eastern Cape).
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Acontias parietalis
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Maputaland Legless Skink, Maputaland Blind Legless Skink
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Maputaland-Lanzenskink
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Maputaland-pilskink
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1990 | |
Typhlosaurus aurantiacus parietalis Broadley |
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Acontias aurantiacus parietalis Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
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Acontias parietalis Bates, Branch, Bauer, Burger, Marais, Alexander & Villiers [eds.] 2014 |
Remarks:
Validity as a separate species supported by Pietersen, Scholtz & Bastos (2018).
Distribution:
Mozambique,
South Africa
(KwaZulu-Natal).
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Acontias percivali
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East African Legless Skink, (Percival's Legless Skink)
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Ostafrikanischer Lanzenskink
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Østafrikansk Pilskink
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1935 | |
Acontias percivali Loveridge |
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1956 | |
Acontias plumbeus broadleyi Fitzsimons (Broadley & Greer 1969) |
Other common names:
percivali: Teita Mountains Limbless Skink
Remarks:
Previously included occidentalis.
Records from Namibia (e.g., Branch 1998, Broadley & Greer 1969) refer to occidentalis.
Distribution:
Kenya,
Tanzania.
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Acontias plumbeus
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Giant Legless Skink
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Riesen-Lanzenskink
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Kæmpe-pilskink
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1848 | |
Acontias plumbeus Bianconi |
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1854 | |
Acontias niger Peters (Broadley & Greer 1969) |
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1996 | |
Acontias poecilus Bourquin & Lambiris (syn. Zhao, Verdú-Ricoy, Mohlakoana, Jordaan, Conradie & Heideman 2019) |
Other common names:
poecilus: Variable Legless Skink
Distribution:
Eswatini,
Mozambique,
South Africa
(Eastern Cape,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
Zimbabwe.
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Acontias richardi
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Limpopo Blind Legless Skink, (Richard's Legless Skink)
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Limpopo-Lanzenskink
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Limpopo-pilskink
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1987 | |
Typhlosaurus lineatus richardi Jacobsen |
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Acontias richardi Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Distribution:
South Africa
(Limpopo).
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Acontias rieppeli
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Woodbush Legless Skink
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Woodbush-Lanzenskink
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Woodbush-pilskink
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1912 | |
Acontophiops lineatus Sternfeld 1912 [not Acontias lineatus Peters 1879] |
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2010 | |
Acontias rieppeli Lamb, Biswas & Bauer [substitute name for Acontophiops lineatus Sternfeld 1912] |
Distribution:
South Africa
(Limpopo).
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Acontias schmitzi
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Kataba Legless Skink
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Kataba-Lanzenskink
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Kataba-pilskink
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2012 | |
Acontias schmitzi Wagner, Broadley & Bauer |
Distribution:
Zambia.
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Acontias subtaeniatus
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Stripe-bellied Legless Skink
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Bauchstreifen-Lanzenskink
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Bugstribet Pilskink
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1968 | |
Typhlosaurus lineatus subtaeniatus Broadley |
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Acontias kgalagadi subtaeniatus Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
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Acontias subtaeniatus Chapple & al. 2021 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a subspecies of kgalagadi.
Distribution:
South Africa
(Limpopo).
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Acontias tristis
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Northern Cape Striped Legless Skink, (Namaqualand Dwarf Legless Skink)
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Nördlicher Kap-Lanzenskink
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Nordlig Kap-pilskink
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1911 | |
Acontias lineatus var. tristis Werner |
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Acontias tristis Lamb, Biswas & Bauer 2010 |
Distribution:
South Africa
(Northern Cape,
Western Cape).
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Acontias wakkerstroomensis
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Wakkerstroom Legless Skink
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Wakkerstroom-Lanzenskink
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Wakkerstroom-pilskink
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2018 | |
Acontias wakkerstroomensis Conradie, Busschau & Edwards |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a population of breviceps (e.g., Bates, Branch, Bauer, Burger, Marais, Alexander & Villiers 2014).
Distribution:
Eswatini,
South Africa
(KwaZulu-Natal,
Mpumalanga).
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