Peters' banded skink (Scincopus fasciatus) is a species of skink belonging to the monotypic genus Scincopus.[2] These skinks are primarily found in the arid and rocky deserts of North Africa, with their range extending across regions such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.

Peters's banded skink
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Scincopus
Peters, 1864
Species:
S. fasciatus
Binomial name
Scincopus fasciatus
(Peters, 1864)
Peter's banded skink

Habitat

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Peter's banded skink is a secretive and primarily terrestrial species. The habitats consisted of sandy areas covered with low discontinuous shrubs and scattered annual herbaceous plants (Cenchrus ciliaris). Shrubs consisted mainly in Rhantheruim suaveolens, Haloxylon scoparium and H. schmittianum.[3]

Reproduction

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This species is oviparous. Females lay a clutch of eggs in burrows, providing protection from potential predators and temperature extremes.[citation needed] In captivity, clutch sizes of 4-5 eggs have been recorded.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Wilms, T.; Wagner, P.; Niagate, B.; Geniez, P.; Crochet, P.-A.; Mateo, J.A.; Joger, U.; Pleguezuelos, J.; Slimani, T.; El Mouden, E.H.; Baha El Din, S. (2021). "Scincopus fasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T178691A16213861. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T178691A16213861.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Scincopus fasciatus".
  3. ^ Kalboussi, M. (2021). Scincopus fasciatus, distribution and new records in Tunisia, Scientific Reports in Life Sciences 2(1), 52-57.
  4. ^ Scincopus fasciatus (Peter's Banded Skink) reproductive biology, July 2022 Herpetological Review 53(2):252-253
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