Kalahari worm lizard
# Kalahari worm lizard

The Kalahari worm lizard (Monopeltis leonhardi), also known commonly as the Kalahari spade-snouted worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is indigenous to southern Africa.

## Etymology

The specific name, leonhardi, is in honor of German ethnographer Leonhard Schultze-Jena.

## Geographic range

M. leonhardi is found in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

## Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of M. leonhardi is shallow sand.

## Description

M. leonhardi is purplish pink dorsally, and pinkish ventrally. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in). The maximum recorded SVL is 29 cm (11 in).

## Reproduction

The mode of reproduction of M. leonhardi is unknown.

