Wedge-snouted skink | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Scincidae |
Genus: | Chalcides |
Species: | C. sepsoides |
Binomial name | |
Chalcides sepsoides (Audouin, 1829) | |
Synonyms | |
Sphenops sepsoidesAudouin, 1829 |
Chalcides sepsoides, the wedge-snouted skink, is a common and widespread species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found in Tunisia, [2] Libya, Egypt, [1] [2] [3] Israel, Jordan, [1] [2] and the Palestinian territories. [1]
S. sepsoides is a viviparous species. [1] C. sepsoides is subarenaceous, and it moves very efficiently by "swimming" under the sand. In fact, it is rarely seen about the ground, and a common method of capturing specimens is to dig through sand dunes near the bases of bushes; this is because its main escape tactic is to dive into the sand. Its limbs are greatly reduced as an adaptation to this fossorial movement. As a result, it is often considered to be a sand specialist.
C. sepsoides occurs in sandy areas and dunes, including open steppe and bushland with sandy soil. It is nocturnal during the summer and diurnal during the winter. [1]
It is a common species that can be locally threatened by habitat loss, overgrazing, and commercial collection, although none of these threats are considered to be very serious, and the species population is stable. [1]
Chalcides is a genus of skinks.
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, and it has five digits on each foot. It preys on insects, spiders, slugs, and woodlice.
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.
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 ebneri, also known commonly as Ebner's cylindrical skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Morocco.
Chalcides guentheri, also known commonly as Günther's cylindrical skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to the Near East.
Chalcides lanzai, or Lanza's skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Morocco.
Chalcides manueli, commonly known as Manuel's skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae.
Chalcides mionecton, the mionecton skink or Morocco cylindrical skink, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is found only in Morocco.
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 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.
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.
Latast's snake skink is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Near East.
Savigny's agama is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to the Levant.
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.
Chalcides armitagei, also known commonly as Armitage's cylindrical skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to West Africa.
Uromastyx aegyptia is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to North Africa and the Middle East.
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.