Thin-tailed Legless Skink
Acontias gracilicauda
Silhouette: David Orr · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyScincidae (Skinks)
- GenusAcontias
- SpeciesAcontias gracilicauda (Thin-tailed Legless Skink)
About the Thin-tailed Legless Skink
Acontias gracilicauda, the slendertail lance skink or thin-tailed legless skink, is a species of skink. It is found in the Republic of South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, Mpumalanga, Free State, North-West Province, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal) and Lesotho. Acontias namaquensis was formerly included in this species as a subspecies, but is now recognized as a distinct species.
Adult males measure on average 152 mm (6.0 in) and adult females 179 mm (7.0 in) in snout–vent length. It has no limbs, like other members of its genus. Bauer, A.M., and Branch, W.R. (2003). The herpetofauna of the Richtersveld National Park, Northern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa. Herpetological Natural History 8:111-160 [2001]
Daniels, S. R.; Hendricks, M. G. J.; Heideman, N. J. L.; Wilson, B. A. (1999). "Geographic Distribution. Acontias gracilicauda gracilicauda Essex 1925: Thin-tailed legless skink". African Herp News. 29: 43. Essex, R. 1925. Descriptions of two new species of the genus Acontias and notes on some other lizards found in the Cape Province. Rec. Albany Mus. 3: 332–342.
Hewitt, J. (1938). "Description of new forms of the genus Acontias... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Thin-tailed Legless Skink in Addo Elephant National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Addo Elephant National Park
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Acontias lineicauda
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Trachylepis varia
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Trachylepis capensis
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Trachylepis variegata
Boulenger's Burrowing Skink
Scelotes anguineus
Western Rock Skink
Trachylepis sulcata
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Red-sided Skink
Trachylepis homalocephala
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Thin-tailed Legless Skink in Addo Elephant National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Thin-tailed Legless Skink sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Thin-tailed Legless Skink in Addo Elephant National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Thin-tailed Legless Skink in Addo Elephant National Park in our monthly data.