Cynisca oligopholis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Cynisca oligopholis faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as West African forests are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with mining activities and logging operations fragmenting its remaining forest habitat. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering the moisture and temperature conditions essential for this fossorial species.
Habitat
This fossorial amphisbaenian inhabits the leaf litter and upper soil layers of West African tropical forests, particularly in areas with high humidity and stable soil conditions. The species requires intact forest canopy to maintain the cool, moist microhabitat essential for its subterranean lifestyle.
