De Coster's worm lizard


De Coster's worm lizard, also known commonly as De Coster's spade-snouted worm lizard and De Coster's worm-lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is indigenous to southern Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, decosteri, is in honor of Belgian Consul Juste De Coster, who was stationed at Delagoa Bay, Mozambique.

Geographic range

M. decosteri is found in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of M. decosteri is moist savanna with sandy soil.

Description

In life M. decosteri is pinkish white dorsally and ventrally. Preserved specimens in alcohol are yellowish white. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length of, but the maximum recorded SVL is.

Reproduction

M. decosteri is viviparous.