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]
| Wedge-snouted skink | |
|---|---|
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 sepsoides Audouin, 1829 | |
Ecology
editS. 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.
Habitat and conservation
editC. 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]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Disi, M.; A.M.; Werner, Y.; El Din, S.B. (2006). "Chalcides sepsoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T61571A12518031. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61571A12518031.en. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Chalcides sepsoides at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 January 2024.
- ^ Baha el Din, Sherif (2006). A Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Egypt. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-9774249792.
Further reading
edit- Werner, Y. "Distribution of the Saharan Sphenops sepsoides (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Israel and Jordan", Herpetologica 24: 238–267, September 1968
- Attum, Omar, Perri Eason, and Gary Cobbs. "Morphology, niche segregation, and escape tactics in a sand dune lizard community", Journal of Arid Environments 68:4 564–573, March 2007
- Attum, Omar, Perri Eason, Gary Cobbs, and S. B. El Din. "Response of a desert lizard community to habitat degradation: Do ideas about habitat specialists/generalists hold?", Biological Conservation 133 52–62, November 2006
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