Chalcides bedriagai

Last updated

Chalcides bedriagai
Chalcides bedriagai 01 by-dpc.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Chalcides
Species:
C. bedriagai
Binomial name
Chalcides bedriagai
(Boscá  [ es ], 1880) [2]
Synonyms [2]
  • Gongylus ocellatus bedriagai
    Boscá, 1880
  • Chalcides bedriagai albaredae
    Valverde, 1968
  • Chalcides bedriagai
    Malkmus, 1982

Chalcides bedriagai, commonly known as Bedriaga's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. It usually lives in sandy areas with sparse vegetation and good ground cover. It can also live in open woodland and burrow into loose soil. Females of the species give birth to live young. This skink is active during day and dusk, and it is very timid. It may reach about 16 cm (6.3 in) in total length (including tail), and it has five digits on each foot. It preys on insects, spiders, slugs, and woodlice.

Contents

Etymology

Both the specific name, bedriagai, and the common name, Bedriaga's skink, are in honor of Russian herpetologist Jacques von Bedriaga. [3]

Description

Bedriaga's skink resembles a scaled-down version of the ocellated skink (Chalcides ocellatus). It has a small head, an elongated cylindrical body and short limbs with five digits on each foot. It measures up to 17 cm (7 in) in total length, at least half of which may be the fairly broad tail. Females are usually larger than males, and in both sexes the tail may sometimes be broken off or in the process of regeneration. There are 24 to 28 scales around the mid-body. The colour is pale brown, yellowish-brown, or grey, with numerous small black-edged eyespots and usually a paler lateral line running along either side. Juveniles are a darker colour. [4]

Geographic range and habitat

Bedriaga's skink is native to Spain and Portugal. It is largely absent from northern Spain and its distribution is rather patchy elsewhere. It also occurs on the Mediterranean islands of the Islas del Mar Menor and the Isla de Nueva Tabarca and the Atlantic islands of Cies Islands, Pessegueiro Island, Ons Island and Islote de Sancti Petri. [1] Its typical habitat is sandy heathland with scrubby vegetation or sandy areas with more dense vegetation. It also occurs in open woodland, clearings, scrubland areas and rocky hillside slopes [4] up to an altitude of about 1,750 metres (5,740 ft) above sea level. It can adapt to living in moderately degraded areas. [1]

Subspecies

There are three subspecies: [2]

Behaviour

Bedriaga's skink is a diurnal species and feeds on a wide range of small invertebrates. It has secretive habits and likes to bask in the sun in well-hidden locations. When disturbed it seeks cover in dense undergrowth or under ground, and it can burrow very quickly through loose soil. At breeding time, males become territorial and often fight. Females may mate with more than one male and are viviparous. The gestation period is about eleven weeks after which one to six young are born. The newly emerged juveniles are about 6 cm (2.4 in) long. [4]

Status

Major threats to this species, C. bedriagai, include modification of its habitat by increased afforestation or coastal development, and increases in the population of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) may have an impact. The population of this skink is believed to be in decline, especially in some island populations, and the IUCN has listed it as being "Near Threatened". [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Chalcides</i> Genus of reptiles

Chalcides is a genus of skinks.

<i>Latastia</i> Genus of lizards

Latastia is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. Species of this genus are distributed in Africa but one subspecies lives in Yemen. Collectively, they are known as long-tailed lizards.

Western skink Species of lizard

The western skink(Plestiodon skiltonianus) is a species of small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs. It measures about 100 to 210 mm in total length. It is one of seven species of lizards in Canada. They spend much of their day basking in the sun. Their diet ranges widely, including spiders and beetles. Western skinks will bite if grasped and will flee if they feel threatened. It is a common but secretive species whose range extends from southern British Columbia and throughout Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming and into western Montana and northern Arizona and Missouri. They can also live in some areas of Texas It is widespread in northern California but primarily restricted to the coast in central and southern California. Found in a variety of habitats, this lizard is most common in early successional stages or open areas of late successional stages. Heavy brush and densely forested areas are generally avoided. Western skinks are found from sea level to at least 2,130 m (7,000 ft). This diurnal reptile is active during the warm seasons.

Prairie skink Species of lizard

The prairie skink is a species of skink endemic to the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is one of only seven species of lizards that occur in Canada.

Australian water dragon Species of lizard

The Australian water dragon, which includes the eastern water dragon and the Gippsland water dragon subspecies, is an arboreal agamid species native to eastern Australia from Victoria northwards to Queensland. There may be a small introduced population on the south-east coast of South Australia.

<i>Chalcides chalcides</i> Species of reptile

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.

<i>Chalcides colosii</i> Species of lizard

Chalcides colosii, also known as the Colosi's cylindrical skink, is a moderately-sized species of skink found in Morocco and some Spanish territories. It is named after Giuseppe Colosi, former director of the Zoological Institute of the University of Florence. It was once considered a subspecies of Chalcides ocellatus. The females of the species give birth to live young.

<i>Chalcides lanzai</i> Species of lizard

Chalcides lanzai, or Lanza's skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Morocco.

<i>Chalcides manueli</i> Species of lizard

Chalcides manueli, commonly known as Manuel's skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae.

<i>Chalcides mionecton</i> Species of lizard

Chalcides mionecton, the mionecton skink or Morocco cylindrical skink, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found only in Morocco.

Gran Canaria skink Species of lizard

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.

Western three-toed skink Species of reptile

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'.

West Canary skink Species of lizard

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.

Bedriagas rock lizard Species of lizard

Bedriaga's rock lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is monotypic within the genus Archaeolacerta. It is only found on the islands Corsica and Sardinia. The scientific name Lacerta bedriagae is also used. There are three recognized subspecies.

<i>Chalcides ocellatus</i> Species of lizard

Chalcides ocellatus, or the ocellated skink is a species of skink found in Greece, southern Italy, Malta, and parts of northern Africa. UAE, Israel, It is also found in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.

Desert egernia Species of lizard

The desert egernia or unadorned desert-skink, desert skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The desert egernia is endemic to the continent of Australia, and is widespread, with populations recorded in all mainland states and territories except the Australian Capital Territory. The desert egernia is found in dry, desert areas with deep, uncompacted sandy/loamy soils and little significant vegetation cover.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Valentin Pérez-Mellado, Rafael Marquez, Iñigo Martínez-Solano (2009). "Chalcides bedriagai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009: e.T61472A12472701. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61472A12472701.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 Chalcides bedriagai at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 9 January 2021.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Chalcides bedriagai, p. 21).
  4. 1 2 3 Arnold, E. Nicholas; Ovenden, Denys W. (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe. Collins & Co. p. 188. ISBN   9780002199643.

Further reading