The Acontinae are a subfamily of the Skinke (Scincidae) living in southern Africa . All 26 species of the subfamily are legless and live in fallen leaves, under rotting tree trunks or digging in loose, sandy soils. They feed on soft-bodied invertebrates such as worms, the largest species, Acontias plumbeus , which reaches 55 centimeters , also eats small vertebrates. Probably all kinds of Acontinae are viviparous (viviparous). The lizards are mostly black or brown in color, some have black-rimmed scales. Acontias species have movable eyelids. In the blind skink ( Typhlosaurus ) living in desert-like regions , the eyes are covered with scales and it is doubtful whether there is any residual vision. They mainly feed on insect larvae and termites . They have dark brown stripes on a yellowish or light brown base color. The females give birth to one or two relatively large young animals.
Eric R. Pianka, Laurie J. Vitt: Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity (Organisms and Environments) . University of California Press (2003), ISBN 0520234014
