Webster's Online Dictionary
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Definition: ACONTIAS

Part of Speech Definition
Noun 1. Anciently, a snake, called dart snake; now, one of a genus of reptiles closely allied to the lizards.[Websters].

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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Date "Acontias" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1828. (references)

Etymology:Acontias \A*con"ti*as\, noun. [New Latin expression, from the Greek expression, from, diminutive dart.]. (references)

Specialty Definition: ACONTIAS

Domain Definition
Noah Webster [Noun] A species of serpent, called dart-snake, or jaculum, from its manner of darting on its prey. This serpent is about three feet in length; of a light gray color with black spots, resembling eyes; the belly perfectly white. It is a native of Africa and the Mediterranean isles; is the swiftest of its kind, and coils itself upon a tree, from which it darts upon its prey. Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Extended Definition: ACONTIAS


Acontias

Acontias
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia (paraphyletic)
(unranked) Sauria
Order: Squamata (paraphyletic)
Infraorder: Scincomorpha
Family: Scincidae
Subfamily: Acontinae
Genus: Acontias
Species

See text.

Acontias, the lance skinks, is a genus of limbless skinks (family Scincidae) from Africa. Most are small animals, but the largest member of the genus is Acontias plumbeus at approximately 40 cm. All members of this genus are live-bearing, sandswimmers with fused eyelids.

The subfamily Acontinae presently holds only this genus[verification needed]. As the Scincinae are apparently paraphyletic, this might eventually change.(Austin & Arnold 2006)

Species

References


Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Acontias". Image Credit.



Topics by Level of Interest: ACONTIAS

Topics sorted by level of Interest Level (1=low, 600=high)     Topics sorted Alphabetically Level (1=low, 600=high)
Acontias percivali 7     Acontias 5
Acontias 5     Acontias breviceps 4
Acontias breviceps 4     Acontias percivali 7

Source: the editor, created by/for EVE to gauge likely levels of human interest in linguistically triggered topics (compiled across various sources, such as Wikipedia and specialty expression glosses).