Sundevall's Writhing Skink

Fascinating facts about the Sundevall's Writhing Skink

• Across fifteen African countries, from Angola to Zimbabwe, Mochlus sundevallii thrives in shrubland, savanna, and forest, even up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) elevation, showing how flexible a single lizard can be across dramatically different landscapes.
• At just 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) snout-to-vent length, with some individuals reaching nearly 9 cm (3.5 in), this skink has a sleek, grayish-brown body.
• The underside of its tail may carry dark speckles while the rest of the belly stays uniformly cream.
• Named for Swedish zoologist Carl Jakob Sundevall, the species’ epithet honors him.

About the Sundevall's Writhing Skink

The Sundevall's writhing skink, Mochlus sundevallii, is a modestly sized lizard that typically measures 6–8 cm from snout to vent, occasionally reaching almost 9 cm. Its dorsal surface is a muted grayish or light brown with dark brown speckling, and its ventral side is uniformly cream-colored, with the underside of the tail sometimes bearing speckling. It inhabits shrubland, savanna, and forest habitats from sea level up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) across Sub-Saharan Africa, including countries such as Angola, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. The species is oviparous.

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