Zygaspis nigra explained

Zygaspis nigra is a worm lizard species in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

Geographic range

Z. nigra is found in Angola, Botswana, the Caprivi strip, and Zambia.

Habitat

The preferred habitat of Z. nigra is woodland on sandy soil.

Description

A large worm lizard, Z. nigra may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 28cm (11inches). It is colored black and white, with a speckled or marbled appearance. It is more blackish dorsally, and is more whitish ventrally. The snout is rounded.^[1]

Reproduction

Z. nigra is oviparous.

Further reading

• Broadley DG, Gans C (1969). "A new species of Zygaspis (Amphisbaenia: Reptilia) from Zambia and Angola". Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 4 (25): 1-4. (Zygaspis niger, new species).
• Broadley, Donald G.; Broadley, Sheila (1997). "A revision of the African genus Zygaspis Cope (Reptilia: Amphisbaenia)". Syntarsus 4: 1-24. (Zygaspis nigra, corrected gender of specific name).
• Measy, G. John; Tolley, Krystal A. (2013). "A molecular phylogeny for sub-Saharan amphisbaenians". African Journal of Herpetology 62 (2): 100-108.

Notes and References

1. [:fr:William Roy Branch|Branch, Bill]