Herein we provide new information on the natural history of Melanoseps emmrichi. The natural history of East African scincid lizards of the genus Melanoseps is poorly known (Spawls et al., 2002). After the last revision by Broadley et al. (2006) the species of the genus distributed in East Africa are M. ater (Günther 1873), M. emmrichi Broadley 2006, M. loveridgei Brygoo & Roux-Estève 1981, M. pygmaeus Broadley 2006, M. rondoensis Loveridge 1942, and M. uzungwensis Loverdige 1942. Diagnostic characters separating M. emmrichi from all other East African members of the genus include: lack of nasal or postnasal, nostril and supranasal both in contact with the irst labial, midbody scale rows 24-26, and subcaudals 36-45 (Broadley et al., 2006). Specimens referred to herein were collected in Tanzania and exported to Germany for the pet trade. We were not able to trace back the exact origin of the specimens, but two species with relatively restricted ranges were exported together with the specimens. These were Afrixalus uluguruensis (Barbour & Loveridge 1928), known from the Usambara, Nguu, Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania and Leptopelis uluguruensis Barbour & Loveridge 1928, distributed within the East Usambara, Nguu, Nguru, Uluguru, and Udzungwa Mountains (IUCN et al., 2006). Since the type locality of M. emmrichi is situated in the Uluguru Mountains (06° 54’ S; 37° 40’ E; Broadley et al., 2006), these mountains appear to be the most likely origin. Voucher specimens were housed in the ZFMK collection preserved in 70% ethanol (Tab. 1). In Germany, the specimens were kept in a terrarium illed to a height of 10 cm with humid coconut humus. Our observations revealed that the species shows its highest activity level during the daylight phase, but also has nocturnal movements. In captivity, it feeds on small (< 3 mm) insects such as fruit lies and micro-crickets. Within three weeks after arrival, one specimen gave birth to three juveniles (Fig. 1). No eggs were detected during daily inspections, conirming a viviparous reproductive mode as suggested, but not conirmed, for the genus by previous authors (see below). Information on the reproduction of members of the genus Melanoseps is sparse. Greer (1970) noted that Greer (1970) noted that M. ater misukuensis might be live bearing and that six gravid females had 2 to 4 (average = 3.0) developing eggs in a clutch. Loveridge (1953) reported that Loveridge (1953) reported that gravid females of M. ater misukuensis, taken from mid-September to mid-October in northern Malawi, contained eggs and tiny embryos (M. ater misukuensis was treated as synonym of M. ater by Broadley et al., 2006). In M. rondoensis, a large female collected in mid-May contained two eggs, about 4 mm in diameter (Loveridge, 1942), and in M. pygmaeus, the holotype collected in the Kambai Forest Reserve, Tanzania on Herpetology Notes, volume 2: 17-19 (2009) (published online on 26 February 2009) Notes on the reproductive mode of Melanoseps emmrichi Broadley 2006 Dennis Rödder 1,2 *, Dario Trautmann 3 and Wolfgang Böhme 1 1 Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113 Bonn, Germany; e-mail: d.roedder.zfmk@uni-bonn.de 2 Biogeography Department, University of Trier, D-54286 Trier, Germany 3 Waltherstrasse 80, D-51069 Köln * corresponding author Abstract. We conirm a previously assumed viviparous mode of reproduction in Melanoseps emmrichi, based on a specimen originating from Tanzania which gave birth to three juveniles. Observations during captivity revealed that the species is predominantly diurnal but also exhibits nocturnal locomotory activity. ZFMK number Snout-Vent Tail Length Length Sex 87267 150 45 adult male 87268 150 33 adult female 87269 136 regenerated adult female 87270 47 12 juvenile 87271 51 regenerated juvenile Table 1. Voucher numbers, sex and morphometric measure- ments (in mm) of ive Melanoseps emmrichi.