''Mochlus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of skinks, lizards in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Scincidae. The genus is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Description

Skinks of the genus ''Mochlus'' are cylindrical in shape and robust. They get the common name "writhing skinks" from the side-to-side movement that they make when held in the hand.

Diet

Skinks in the genus ''Mochlus'' feed on insects and millipedes.Alexander, Graham; Marais, Johan (2008). ''A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Publishers. 408 pp. . ("Writhing Skinks", pp. 247-248).

Species

The following 19

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

are recognized as being valid. *'' Mochlus brevicaudis'' *'' Mochlus fernandi'' – fire skink *'' Mochlus grandisonianus'' – Lanza's writhing skink *'' Mochlus guineensis'' – Guinean forest skink *'' Mochlus hinkeli'' – Hinkel's red-sided skink, Hinkel's red-flanked skink *'' Mochlus laeviceps'' (W. Peters, 1874) – common writhing skink *'' Mochlus lanceolatus'' Broadley, 1990 – Broadley's writhing skink *'' Mochlus mabuiiformis'' – Mabuya-like writhing skink *'' Mochlus mafianus'' – mafia writhing skink *'' Mochlus mocquardi'' – Mocquard's writhing skinkBeolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Lygosoma mocquardi'', p. 181). *'' Mochlus paedocarinatus'' – Lanza's writhing skink, Abyssinian writhing skink *'' Mochlus pembanus'' Boettger, 1913 – Pemba Island writhing skink *'' Mochlus productus'' – Boulenger's writhing skink *'' Mochlus simonettai'' – Simonetta's writhing skink *'' Mochlus somalicus'' – Somali writhing skink *''

Mochlus striatus ''Mochlus striatus'' is a species of skink. It is endemic to Central Africa and found in Gabon, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. It inhabits rainforest areas, swamps, and coastal forests. ''Mochlus striatus'' me ...

'' *'' Mochlus sundevallii'' – Sundevall's writhing skink *'' Mochlus tanae'' – Loveridge's writhing skink, Tana River writhing skink *''

Mochlus vinciguerrae ''Mochlus vinciguerrae'', also known commonly as Vinciguerra's writhing skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is indigenous to East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''vinciguerrae'', is ...

'' – Vinciguerra's writhing skink ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...

'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Mochlus''.

Description

Diet

Species

References

Further reading