| Algerian three-toed skink | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Chalcides |
| Species: | C. mertensi |
| Binomial name | |
| Chalcides mertensi Klausewitz, 1954 | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Algerian three-toed skink (Chalcides mertensi) is a species of "grass-swimming" skink with an elongated serpentine shape and reduced limbs. It is endemic to north-western Africa.
It is native to northern Algeria and northern Tunisia, where it occurs on the Mediterranean coast. [1]
The Algerian three-toed skink lives in forested areas in northern Algeria, and in semi-arid maquis-type habitats in Algeria and Tunisia. It prefers humid, sunny areas with dense vegetation within grassland, meadows, areas close to streams, hedges, open cork oak forest, and the edges of cultivated areas. It is also known from tall herbaceous grassland. The females give birth to formed young. [2] It has been recorded from sea level up to 1,500 m above sea level. [1]
The Algerian three-toed skink was formerly considered to be as a subspecies of the Italian three-toed skink Chalcides chalcides , but it was raised to species status by Caputo (1993). [1] It has further been proposed that as molecular studies identified different lineages of the Algerian three-toed skink from samples in the northern and southern parts of its range in Tunisia and suggest there are at least two species present but recommended further research. [3] Another molecular study showed that this species was in a clade of Chalcides called the grass-swimming clade alongside Chalcides chalcides, Chalcides minutus and Chalcides mauritanicus , Chalcides guentheri , Chalcides pseudostriatus and Chalcides striatus , and it seems to be closest to eastern specimens of Chalcides minutus rather than Chalcides chalcides. [4]
The Algerian three-toed skink is listed as least concern but is threatened by habitat loss caused by overgrazing and the conversion of land to agricultural and urbanisation. It occurs in the Djurdjura National Park in Algeria but is not known to occur in any protected areas in Tunisia. [1]
Chalcides is a genus of skinks.
Eumeces schneiderii, commonly known as Schneider's skink or the Berber skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Central Asia, Western Asia, and North Africa. There are five recognized subspecies.
The Italian three-toed skink or the cylindrical skink is a species of lizard found from Italy, to northern Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. It is common in some locations and is usually found in sunny areas with dense vegetation but can also be found in arid areas. They reach about 48 cm in length, out of which the tail constitutes more than half. Its body is long and snake-like, coloured usually between brown and olive and may have dark stripes on the back. Each of the highly reduced legs has three fingers. These skinks are active during daytime and prey mainly on insects. Females of the species give birth to live young. The population of this skink is slowly declining, but it has some tolerance to habitat modification.
Chalcides colosii, also known commonly as the Riffian skink and Colosi's cylindrical skink, is a moderate-sized species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to Morocco and some Spanish territories in northwestern Africa. It is named after Giuseppe Colosi, former director of the Zoological Institute of the University of Florence. It has been considered a subspecies of Chalcides ocellatus. The females of the species give birth to live young.
Chalcides mauritanicus, or the two-fingered skink, is an African species of skink found in Algeria and Morocco. It occurs in sandy areas and plantations, but cannot exist in severely modified habitats. It also requires good ground cover, but as this is becoming increasingly scarce, the species is declining. The distribution of the species is severely fragmented. Females of the species give birth to live young.
Chalcides minutus, or the small three-toed skink, is a species of skink found in Morocco and western Algeria. Its numbers are declining, but it is locally common. It is most often found in damp, sunny forests or grasslands with thick vegetation, but it can also be found in relatively dry areas, and its population is most likely decreasing. It is threatened by overgrazing and habitat destruction due to encroaching agricultural interests. Females of the species give birth to live young through ovoviviparity. Recent molecular studies have revealed that C. minutus could be a composite of species with individuals from the type locality forming long independent lineage and the remaining most closely related to Chalcides mertensi.
Chalcides mionecton, the mionecton skink or Morocco cylindrical skink, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found only in Morocco.
Chafarinas's skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found in Algeria, Morocco, and Spain. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, sandy shores, and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The many-scaled cylindrical skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found in Morocco and Western Sahara. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, sandy shores, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Moroccan three-toed skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found in Morocco and Spain. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Gran Canaria skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae which is endemic to Gran Canaria. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, rocky areas, sandy shores, pastureland, and plantations. The adults measure 16 – 18 cm out of which the tail forms 50%. Their legs are tiny, slim, and have five fingers. They live solitarily and only seek a partner during the mating season. They are ovoviviparous; females give birth to 2 - 4 babies after three months of pregnancy. They are kept as pets in vivariums.
The western three-toed skink is a species of lizard with tiny legs in the family Scincidae. It is found in the Iberian Peninsula, southern France and parts of northwestern Italy. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens. It was first described 1829 by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier. The generic name comes from the Greek "chalcides" meaning 'copper' and the specific name is derived from the Latin "striatus" meaning 'streak'.
The West Canary skink, also known commonly as the Canaryan cylindrical skink, East Canary Islands skink, the Tenerife skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Canary Islands.
Eumeces algeriensis, commonly called the Algerian skink, Algerian orange-tailed skink, Berber's skink, in French eumece d'Algérie, or in Spanish bulán, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Maghreb region of North Africa.
The wedge-snouted skink is a common and widespread species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya, and the Palestinian territories. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, freshwater springs, hot deserts, and sandy shores. S. sepsoides is a viviparous species, and it is nocturnal during the summer and diurnal during the winter.
Chalcides ocellatus, or the ocellated skink is a species of skink found in Greece, southern Italy, Malta, Lebanon, and parts of northern Africa. UAE, Israel, It is also found in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.
Cryptoblepharus mertensi, also known commonly as Merten's snake-eyed skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Northern Territory in Australia.
Chalcides boulengeri, also known commonly as Boulenger's feylinia and Boulenger's wedge-snouted skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to the Maghreb region of North Africa.
Chalcides delislei, also known commonly as Delisle's wedge-snouted skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to northern Africa.
