Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: October 31st, 2023.
 
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Genus
Mochlus
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African Supple Skinks, (African Writhing Skinks)
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Afrikanische Krümmenskinke
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Afrikanske Vrideskinker
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1864 |  |
Mochlus Günther (type species: Mochlus punctulatus Günther 1864) |
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1880 | |
Sepacontias Günther (type species: Sepacontias modestus Günther 1880; syn. Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019) |
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1892 | |
Lepidothyris [Lepidothyrus?] Cope (type species: Tiliqua fernandi Burton 1836; syn. Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019; Shea 2021) |
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1917 | |
Paralygosoma Chabanaud (type species: Lygosoma monneti Chabanaud 1917; syn. Perret 1975 [by implication]) |
Contents:
19 species, of which 6 (31.6%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0%  100%
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of
Lygosoma
(e.g., Greer 1977), but as a valid genus by others
(e.g.; Mittleman 1952; Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009).
Revalidated as a separate genus by Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler (2019), who, based on analyzed tissue samples, assigned only six species with certainty
to the genus.
Because tissue samples were not available for many of the remaining species previously assigned to
Lygosoma,
the authors retained another 13 African species
in the genus
Lygosoma,
pending further studies.
These species are, however, tentatively assigned to Mochlus herein, based on their African distribution, and because most of them have previously been assigned
to or even described originally as members of this genus.
Shea (2021) used the spelling Lepidothyrus instead of Lepidothyris.
Distribution:
SubSaharan Africa.
Reported from:
Angola,
Benin,
Botswana,
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Chad,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Djibouti,
Equatorial Guinea
(Bioko,
Rio Muni),
Eswatini,
Ethiopia,
Gabon,
Ghana,
Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau,
Ivory Coast,
Kenya,
Liberia,
Malawi,
Mozambique
(incl.
Bazaruto Archipelago
[incl.
Benguerua]),
Namibia,
Niger,
Nigeria,
Rwanda,
Senegal,
Sierra Leone,
Somalia,
South Africa
(Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
North West Province,
Northern Cape),
South Sudan,
Sudan,
Tanzania
(incl.
Mafia,
Pemba,
Zanzibar),
Togo,
Uganda,
Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
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Mochlus brevicaudis
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Short-tailed Supple Skink
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Kurzschwanz-Krümmenskink
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Korthalet Vrideskink
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1985 | |
Lygosoma brevicaudis Greer, Grandison & Barbault |
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Mochlus brevicaudis The Reptile Database 2015 (viewed 24 Feb) |
Distribution:
Ghana,
Guinea,
Ivory Coast.
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Mochlus fernandi
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Western Red-flanked Skink, Red-and-black Skink, (Fernand's Skink)
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Westlicher Prachtskink
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Vestlig Rødflanket Skink, (Fernands Slanke Skink)
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1836 | |
Tiliqua fernandi Burton |
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Lepidothyris fernandi Cope 1892 |
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Riopa fernandi Smith 1937 |
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Mochlus fernandi Mittleman 1952 |
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Lygosoma fernandi Boulenger 1887 |
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1845 | |
Plestiodon harlani Hallowell (Loveridge 1957; Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009) |
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Lepidothyris fernandi harlani Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009 |
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1885 | |
Tiliqua nigripes Müller (Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009) |
Remarks:
Previously included striatus and the populations now assigned to hinkeli.
Status of the Rio Muni population (Lasso, Rial, Castroviejo & De La Riva 2002) needs to be verified, as it may represent striatus.
Distribution:
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Equatorial Guinea
(Bioko,
Rio Muni),
Gabon,
Ghana,
Guinea,
Ivory Coast,
Liberia,
Nigeria,
Senegal,
Sierra Leone,
Togo.
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Mochlus fernandi
© Rune Midtgaard
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Mochlus grandisonianus
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Northeastern Somali Supple Skink, Northeastern Somali Writhing Skink, (Grandison's Writhing Skink)
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Nordostsomalischer Krümmenskink
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Nordøstsomalisk Vrideskink
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1966 | |
Mochlus grandisonianus Lanza & Carfi |
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Lygosoma grandisonianum Greer 1977 |
Distribution:
Somalia.
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Mochlus guineensis
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Guinean Supple Skink, Guinean Writhing Skink, Guinean Forest Skink, (Peter's West African Forest Skink)
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Guinea-Krümmenskink
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Guinea-vrideskink
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1879 | |
Euprepes guineensis Peters |
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Riopa guineense Smith 1937 |
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Mochlus guineensis Mittleman 1952 |
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Riopa sundevallii guineensis Loveridge 1952 |
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Lygosoma guineense Greer 1977 |
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Mochlus sundevalli guineensis Hoogmoed 1980 |
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1884 | |
Euprepes chaperi Vaillant (Ineich & Trape 2017) |
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1917 | |
Lygosoma monneti Chabanaud (Perret 1975; Greer 1977) |
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Paralygosoma monneti Grandison 1956 |
Distribution:
Benin,
Cameroon,
Ghana,
Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau,
Ivory Coast,
Nigeria,
Togo.
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Mochlus hinkeli
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Eastern Red-flanked Skink
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Östlicher Prachtskink
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Østlig Rødflanket Skink
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2009 | |
Lepidothyris hinkeli Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz |
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Mochlus hinkeli Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019 |
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2009 | |
Lepidothyris hinkeli joei Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz |
Distribution:
Angola,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Kenya,
Rwanda,
Uganda,
Zambia.
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Mochlus laeviceps
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Southeastern Somali Supple Skink, Southeastern Somali Writhing Skink, Common Writhing Skink)
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Südostsomalischer Krümmenskink
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Sydøstsomalisk Vrideskink
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1874 | |
Euprepes laeviceps Peters |
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Mochlus laeviceps Mittleman 1952 |
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Riopa laeviceps Parker 1942 |
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Lygosoma laeviceps Greer 1977 |
Remarks:
Previously included paedocarinatus (e.g., Lanza & Carfi 1968).
Distribution:
Somalia.
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Mochlus lanceolatus
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Bazaruto Supple Skink, Bazaruto Writhing Skink
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Bazaruto-Krümmenskink
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Bazaruto-vrideskink
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1990 | |
Lygosoma lanceolatum Broadley |
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Mochlus lanceolatus Midtgaard 2020 (this work) |
Distribution:
Mozambique
(Bazaruto Archipelago
[incl.
Benguerua]).
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Mochlus mabuiiformis
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Kenya Supple Skink, Kenya Writhing Skink, Mabuya-like Writhing Skink
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Kenianischer Krümmenskink
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Kenyansk Vrideskink
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1935 | |
Riopa mabuiiformis Loveridge |
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Lygosoma mabuiiforme Greer 1977 |
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Mochlus mabuiiforme The Reptile Database 2015 (viewed 24 Feb) |
Distribution:
Kenya,
Somalia.
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Mochlus mafianus
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Mafia Supple Skink, Mafia Writhing Skink
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Mafia-Krümmenskink
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Mafia-vrideskink
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1994 | |
Lygosoma mafianum Broadley |
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Mochlus mafianus Midtgaard 2020 (this work) |
Distribution:
Tanzania
(incl.
Mafia).
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Mochlus mocquardi
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Chad Supple Skink, (Mocquard's Supple Skink)
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Tschadischer Krümmenskink
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Chad-vrideskink
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1917 | |
Lygosoma mocquardi Chabanaud |
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Riopa mocquardi Smith 1937 |
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Mochlus mocquardi Mittleman 1952 |
Remarks:
Hughes (1988) also listed mocquardi from Ghana [as sundevalli], but Trape, Trape & Chirio (2012) did not include this country in the distribution.
Distribution:
Chad,
Niger,
Nigeria.
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Mochlus paedocarinatus
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Abyssinian Supple Skink, Abyssinian Writhing Skink, (Lanza's Writhing Skink)
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Abyssinische Krümmenskink
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Abyssinsk Vrideskink
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1968 | |
Mochlus laeviceps paedocarinatus Lanza & Carfi |
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Lygosoma paedocarinatum Lanza 1990 |
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Mochlus paedocarinatum The Reptile Database 2015 (viewed 24 Feb) |
Remarks:
Recognised as a separate species by Lanza (1990) and Largen & Spawls (2006), but without discussion or references.
Distribution:
Somalia.
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Mochlus pembanus
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Pemba Supple Skink, Pemba Writhing Skink
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Pemba-Krümmenskink
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Pemba-vrideskink
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1913 | |
Lygosoma pembanum Boettger |
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Riopa pembanum Moreau & Pakenham 1941 |
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Mochlus pembanus Mittleman 1952 |
Distribution:
Kenya,
Tanzania
(Pemba).
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Mochlus productus
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Southern Supple Skink, Southern Writhing Skink, (Boulenger's Writhing Skink)
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Südlicher Krümmenskink
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Sydlig Vrideskink
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1909 | |
Lygosoma productum Boulenger |
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Riopa producta Smith 1937 |
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Squamicilia producta Mittleman 1952 |
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Mochlus productum The Reptile Database 2015 (viewed 24 Feb) |
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1929 | |
Lygosoma parisii Scortecci (Parker 1932) |
Distribution:
Somalia.
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Mochlus simonettai
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Afgoi Supple Skink, Afgoi Writhing Skink, (Simonetta's Writhing Skink)
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Afgoi-Krümmenskink
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Afgoi-vrideskink
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1979 | |
Lygosoma simonettai Lanza |
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Mochlus simonettai The Reptile Database 2015 (viewed 24 Feb) |
Distribution:
Somalia.
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Mochlus somalicus
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Somali Savanna Supple Skink, Somali Savanna Writhing Skink, Somali Writhing Skink
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Somalischer Savannen-Krümmenskink
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Somalisk Savanne-vrideskink
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1942 | |
Riopa modesta somalica Parker |
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Lygosoma sundevalli somalicum Welch 1982 |
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Lygosoma somalicum Lanza 1990 |
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Mochlus somalicum The Reptile Database 2015 (viewed 24 Feb) |
Distribution:
Djibouti,
Ethiopia,
Kenya,
Somalia,
Tanzania.
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Mochlus striatus
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Central African Red-flanked Skink
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Zentralafikanischer Prachtskink
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Centralafrikansk Rødflanket Skink
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1854 | |
Euprepis striata Hallowell |
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Lepidothyris striata Cope 1892 |
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Mochlus striatus Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler 2019 |
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1883 | |
Euprepes elegans Fischer [not Mabuya elegans Gray 1845] (Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009) |
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1884 | |
Euprepes leoninus Fischer [substitute name for Euprepes elegans Fischer 1883] (Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009) |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of fernandi (e.g., Loveridge 1957). Revalidated by Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz (2009). Presence in Sierra Leone (type locality of leoninus) is highly doubtful (Wagner, Böhme, Pauwels & Schmitz 2009).
Distribution:
Cameroon,
Central African Republic,
Congo-Brazzaville,
Equatorial Guinea
(Rio Muni),
Gabon.
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Mochlus sundevallii
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Common Savanna Supple Skink, Common Savanna Writhing Skink, Fat-tailed Savannah Skink, (Sundevall's Writhing Skink)
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Gewöhnlicher Savannen-Krümmenskink
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Almindelig Savanne-vrideskink
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1849 | |
Eumices sunderallii [sic] Smith |
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Eumeces sundevallii Peters 1882 |
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Lygosoma sundevalli Boulenger 1887 |
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Riopa sundevalli Pitman 1934 |
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Mochlus sundevalli Mittleman 1952 |
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1854 | |
Eumeces afer Peters (syn. Freitas, Bauer, Siler, Broadley & Jackman 2018) |
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Mochlus afer Laurent & Gans 1965 |
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Lygosoma afer Greer 1977 |
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1864 | |
Mochlus punctulatus Günther (Broadley & Howell 1991) |
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1868 | |
Eumeces perdicolor Cope (Broadley & Howell 1991) |
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1870 | |
Euprepes dumerili Steindachner (Broadley & Howell 1991) |
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1898 | |
Lygosoma ferrandii Boulenger (Broadley 1966) |
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1862 | |
Eumeces reticulatus Peters (Broadley 1966) |
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1880 | |
Sepacontias modestus Günther (Broadley & Howell 1991) |
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Riopa modesta Loveridge 1957 |
Other common names:
afer: Mozambique Writhing Skink, (Peters' Writhing Skink, Short-legged Skink)
modesta: Brown Writhing Skink, Mpwapwa Skink
Remarks:
Previously included somalicus.
West African records refer to mocquardi (Trape, Trape & Chirio 2012).
The taxon afer has variously been regarded as a synonym of sundevallii (e.g., Peters 1882; Boulenger 1887; Loveridge 1933; Laurent 1964), or as a separate
species (Laurent & Gans 1965; Greer 1977). It is herein regarded as a synonym of sundevallii, following Freitas, Bauer, Siler, Broadley & Jackman (2018).
A single record from Yemen (Scortecci 1932) is considered unreliable and needs confirmation (Arnold 1986; Gasperetti 1988).
Distribution:
Angola,
Botswana,
Central African Republic,
Congo-Kinshasa,
Eswatini,
Ethiopia,
Kenya,
Malawi,
Mozambique,
Namibia,
Somalia,
South Africa
(Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo,
Mpumalanga,
North West Province,
Northern Cape),
South Sudan,
Sudan,
Tanzania
(incl.
Mafia,
Zanzibar),
Uganda,
Zambia,
Zimbabwe.
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Mochlus tanae
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Tana River Supple Skink, Tana River Writhing Skink, Tana Writhing Skink, Tana Delta Skink
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Tana-River-Krümmenskink
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Tana River-vrideskink
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1935 | |
Riopa tanae Loveridge |
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Lygosoma tanae Greer 1977 |
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Mochlus tanae The Reptile Database 2015 (viewed 24 Feb) |
Distribution:
Kenya,
Somalia,
Tanzania.
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Mochlus vinciguerrae
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Lugh Supple Skink, Lugh Writhing Skink, (Vinciguerra's Writhing Skink)
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Lugh-Krümmenskink
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Lugh-vrideskink
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1932 | |
Lygosoma vinciguerrae Parker |
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Riopa vinciguerrae Smith 1937 |
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Mochlus vinciguerrae Lanza & Carfi 1968 |
Distribution:
Ethiopia,
Somalia.
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