Cryptoblepharus virgatus

Cryptoblepharus virgatus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Eugongylidae
Genus:	Cryptoblepharus
Species:	C. virgatus
Binomial name
Cryptoblepharus virgatus (Garman, 1901)
Synonyms [2]
Ablepharus virgatus Garman 1901 Ablepharus boutoni virgatus Garman, 1901

The fence skink may grow to a total length (tail included) of up to 10 cm (3.9 in).

Cryptoblepharus virgatus, also commonly known as the striped snake-eyed skink, cream-striped shinning-skink, ^[3] wall skink, ^[4] fence skink, and snake-eyed skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Eugongylinae of the family Scincidae (skinks). The species is native to northeastern Queensland, Australia. ^[2] It is an active little lizard, and if threatened will often play dead to confuse the attacker.

Description

Cryptoblepharus virgatus is a relatively small, flat-bodied skink of a silver-gray coloring. It has a distinct white stripe running along the body from the eye to the base of the tail. It typically grows to a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of around 4 cm (1.6 in) ^[4] and a total length (tail included) of around 10 cm (3.9 in). ^[5] It is sometimes called a snake-eyed skink because it lacks eyelids, instead having a translucent layer of scales covering its eyes similar to that of snakes. C. virgatus usually has five supraciliary scales, 22 rows of scales around the body at midbody, and eight plantar scales that are rounded and pale. ^[4]

Taxonomy

The species Cryptoblepharus virgatus was first formally identified and named Ablepharus virgatus by the herpetologist Samuel Garman in 1901 as part of the work "Some Reptiles and Batrachians from Australasia" as published in the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College. ^[3] The specific name virgatus is Latin for "striped". ^[4]

Geographic distribution

The geographic range of Cryptoblepharus virgatus is in northeastern Queensland. ^[4]

Habitat

The preferred habitats of Cryptoblepharus virgatus include urban areas, woodlands, and grasslands. ^[1] It will often be seen on vertical surfaces such as trees, fences, and walls.

References

1. Hoskin, C.; Couper, P.; Amey, A. (2018). "Cryptoblepharus virgatus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T42483576A42483585. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T42483576A42483585.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. Cryptoblepharus virgatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 14 January 2020.
3. "Cryptoblepharus virgatus (Garman, 1901) Striped Snake-Eyed Skink". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 3 March 2019.
4. Macdonald, Stewart. "Wall skink Cryptoblepharus virgatus - (Garman, 1901)". Australian Reptile Online Database. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
5. "Wall Skink (Cryptoblepharus virgatus)". Australian Wildlife. Ozanimals. Retrieved 3 March 2019.

Further reading

• Cogger, H.G. (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN   978-0643100350. xxx + 1,033 pp.
• Garman, S. (1901). "Some Reptiles and Batrachians from Australasia". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College. 39 (1): 1–14. + Plates 1–2. (Ablepharus virgatus, new species, pp. 10–11).
• Wilson, S.; Swan, G. (2023). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Sixth Edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland Publishers. ISBN   978-1-92554-671-2. 688 pp. (Cryptoblepharus virgatus, pp. 250–251).