Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 15, 2026

Ecpleopus

Ecpleopus is a genus of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The genus contains only one species, Ecpleopus gaudichaudii, which is endemic to Brazil.

Last revised
Jun 15, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
395 w
Citations
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Wikipedia ↗
Ecpleopus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gymnophthalmidae
Genus: Ecpleopus
A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 18393
Species:
E. gaudichaudii
Binomial name
Ecpleopus gaudichaudii
A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 18392
Synonyms2

Ecpleopus is a genus of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. The genus contains only one species, Ecpleopus gaudichaudii, which is endemic to Brazil.2

Etymology

The specific name, gaudichaudii, is in honor of French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré.4

Geographic range

E. gaudichaudii is found in the Atlantic Forest in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo.1

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of E. gaudichaudii is forest, where it lives in the leaf litter on the forest floor.1

Description

E. gaudichaudii may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 5 cm (2.0 in). Its legs are short, and its tail is laterally compressed.1

Diet

E. gaudichaudii preys upon small invertebrates such as termites, orthopterans, and spiders.1

Reproduction

E. gaudichaudii is oviparous.2

References

References

  1. Colli, G.R.; Fenker, J.; Tedeschi, L.; Bataus, Y.S.L.; Uhlig, V.M.; Lima, A.; Nogueira, C. de C.; Borges-Nojosa, D.M.; Costa, G.C.; de Moura, G.J.B.; Winck, G.; Silva, J.R.S.; Viñas, L.V.; Ribeiro Júnior, M.A.; Hoogmoed, M.S.; Tinôco, M.S.T.; Almeida-Santos, P.; Valadão, R.; de Oliveira, R.B.; Avila-Pires, T.C.S.; Ferreira, V.L.; de Menezes, V.A. (2019). "Ecpleopus gaudichaudii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (in Portuguese). 2019 e.T134883848A135333738. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T134883848A135333738.pt. Retrieved 18 November 2021. (in English and Portuguese).
  2. Species Ecpleopus gaudichaudii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. "Ecpleopus ". Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de/systematik/Reptilien/Scincomorpha/Gymnophthalmidae.
  4. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ecpleopus gaudichaudii, p. 99).
Further reading

Further reading

  • Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Teiidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (Genus Ecpleopus, p. 401; species E. gaudichaudii, p. 401).
  • Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1839). Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles. Tome cinquième [Volume 5]. Paris: Roret. viii + 854 pp. (Ecpleopus, new genus, pp. 434–436; Ecpleopus gaudichaudii, new species, pp. 436–438). (in French).
  • Uzzell, Thomas (1969). "The Status of the Genera Ecpleopus, Arthroseps, and Aspidolaemus (Sauria, Teiidae)". Postilla (135): 1-23.