Dalophia longicauda (Werner, 1915)

Pietersen, Darren W., Pietersen, Errol W. & Conradie, Werner, 2017, Preliminary herpetological survey of Ngonye Falls and surrounding regions in south-western Zambia, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 148) 11 (1), pp. 24-43 : 30

Dalophia longicauda (Werner, 1915)

Long-tailed Worm Lizard

Photograph: VMUS 163523

A single individual ( Fig. 2c ) was found on the soil surface in the vicinity of Park Headquarters. It is uniform fleshpink in color with 326 dorsal and 37 caudal annuli, with the tail ending in a calloused pad. There is no constricted caudal autotomy site, and the dorsal caudal annuli form a “herring-bone” pattern. The cephalic shield consists of a single large plate, with lateral sulci. This individual is distinguished from D. angolensis and D. ellenbergeri by the absence of a constricted caudal autotomy site ( Broadley et al. 1976). It is further distinguished from both D. angolensis and D. pistillum by the high subcaudal counts (usually 20–27 caudal annuli in D. angolensis and 19–33 in D. pistillum ). It is distinguished from D. angolensis , D. ellenbergeri , and D. pistillum by the dorsal caudal annuli forming a “herring-bone” pattern ( Broadley et al. 1976). This represents the first record of this fossorial species in Zambia ( Branch 1998; Broadley 1971a; Broadley et al. 1976; Uetz et al. 2017).

Figures

Fig. 2. Selection of amphibians and reptiles photographed in the vicinity of Ngonye Falls, south-western Zambia. (A) View of Ngonye Falls from the eastern side of the Zambezi River. (B) Mapacha Grass Frog (Ptychadena cf. mapacha, VMUS 5990), Sioma Ngwezi National Park Headquarters. (C) Long-tailed Worm Lizard (Dalophia longicauda), Sioma Ngwezi National Park Headquarters.(D) Zambezi Rough-scaled Lizard (Ichnotropis grandiceps, TM 86237), Sioma Ngwezi National Park Headquarters. (E) Barotse Blind Legless Skink (Acontias jappi, TM 86232), Sioma Ngwezi National Park Headquarters. (F) Eastern Black-lined Plated Lizard (Gerrhosaurus intermedius), Sioma Ngwezi National Park Headquarters.