Chalcides minutus

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Chalcides minutus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Chalcides
Species:
C. minutus
Binomial name
Chalcides minutus
Caputo, 1993

Chalcides minutus, [1] [2] or the small three-toed skink, is a species of skink found in northeastern Morocco, northwestern Algeria, and on the Spanish island of Melilla. [1]

Contents

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 . [3] [4]

Description

Chalcides minutus is the smallest species of its genus, reaching 115 mm (4.5 in) in snout–vent length. Females of the species give birth to live young through ovoviviparity. [2]

Habitat and conservation

Chalcides minutus 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. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Chalcides</i> Genus of reptiles

Chalcides is a genus of skinks.

<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 and in india. 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 (19 in) 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 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.

<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 mauritanicus</i> Species of lizard

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algerian three-toed skink</span> Species of reptile

The Algerian three-toed skink is a species of "grass-swimming" skink with an elongated serpentine shape and reduced limbs. It is endemic to north-western Africa.

<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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Many-scaled cylindrical skink</span> Species of lizard

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gran Canaria skink</span> 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.

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

The Fuerteventura skink is an endangered ovoviviparous species of skink in the family Scincidae. Skinks are generally characterized by their smaller legs and less pronounced necks compared to typical lizards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Canary skink</span> 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.

<i>Eumeces algeriensis</i> Species of lizard

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.

Chalcides sepsoides, the wedge-snouted skink, is a common and widespread species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories.

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

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.

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

Chalcides bottegi, also known commonly as Bottego's cylindrical skink or the ocellated skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and Northeast Africa.

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.

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

Chalcides sphenopsiformis, or Duméril's wedge-snouted skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is found in Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Senegal.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mateo, J.A.; Joger, U.; Pleguezuelos, J.; Slimani, T.; El Mouden, E.H.; Geniez, P.; Martinez Solano, I. (2016) [errata version of 2009 assessment]. "Chalcides minutus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009: e.T61481A86153110. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61481A12476589.en . Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 Chalcides minutus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 January 2024.
  3. Carranza, S.; Arnold, E. N.; Geniez, Ph.; Roca, J.; Mateo, J. A. (March 2008). "Radiation, multiple dispersal and parallelism in the skinks, Chalcides and Sphenops (Squamata: Scincidae), with comments on Scincus and Scincopus and the age of the Sahara Desert". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 46 (3): 1071–1094. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.11.018. PMID   18276164.
  4. Montero-Mendieta, S.; Ferrer, J.; Ait Hammou, M.; Dahmani, W.; Sanuy, D.; Camarasa, S. (2017-01-30). "Another record or a new taxon? A candidate species of Chalcides Laurenti, 1768, in North Africa (Squamata: Sauria: Scincidae)". Herpetozoa. 29: 155–161.