Proscelotes arnoldi | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Scincidae |
Genus: | Proscelotes |
Species: | P. arnoldi |
Binomial name | |
Proscelotes arnoldi | |
Synonyms | |
Proscelotes arnoldi, commonly known as Arnold's skink or Arnold's montane skink, is a species of lizard endemic to Africa. [1] Sometimes called a legless skink, it has tiny reduced limbs. The front limbs are very small, and both fore-limbs and hind-limbs have reduced function and appear to be vestigial attachments for its lifestyle and habitat.
The specific name, arnoldi, is in honor of entomologist George Arnold (1881-1962) of the National Museum in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. [2]
P. arnoldi is a tiny, slender skink, 12–18 cm (4.7–7.1 in) long, and up to 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter, with a short body compared to the long, comparatively thick tail. Its body is brown, but each scale has a dark metallic central spot so it has a shiny appearance. The belly is pale pink in juveniles to salmon-orange in adults. [3]
Arnold's skink is found in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe in grasslands and forest and particularly the margins between habitats (like stream banks). This small skink lives in tussock or hamper type mountain grass and moss-beds hiding under stones and logs. It is not easily seen, but it's relatively easy to catch.
P. arnoldii may lay eggs or give birth to live young. Some females have been found containing 4-5 eggs, while others have been found containing 5-6 embryos. [4]
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The Florida sand skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae, the skinks. It is endemic to Florida in the United States.
Proscelotes is a genus of skinks. The genus is endemic to Africa.
Scincella lateralis is a small species of skink found throughout much of the eastern half of the United States, and into northern Mexico.
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Trachylepis homalocephala, commonly known as the red-sided skink, is a small, slender species of skink in the subfamily Mabuyinae.
Marshall's pygmy chameleon, also called Marshall's leaf chameleon or Marshall's dwarf chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in the forests of Zimbabwe and Mozambique in Africa. It grows from 3.5 to 7.5 cm and feeds on insects. When standing still, it resembles a leaf on a branch.
Aspidelaps lubricus, commonly known as the Cape coral snake or the Cape coral cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to parts of southern Africa.
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Dasypeltis medici, known commonly as the East African egg-eater and the eastern forest egg-eater, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa.
The black file snake, also known commonly as the dwarf file snake or the Nyassa file snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Lamprophiinae of the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Panaspis wahlbergi, also known commonly as the Angolan snake-eyed skink, the savannah lidless skink, and Wahlberg's snake-eyed skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is indigenous to Sub-Saharan Africa.
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