Voeltzkowia mobydick is a species of mermaid skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae.[2] In 2012, the species was first described in a paper by French herpetologists Aurélien Miralles, Miguel Vences, and their colleagues.[1]
| Voeltzkowia mobydick | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Voeltzkowia |
| Species: | V. mobydick
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| Binomial name | |
| Voeltzkowia mobydick | |
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| Distribution of V. mobydick in Madagascar. | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
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Mermaid skinks have only forelimbs, no hind limbs, hence the common name "mermaid skink". This species's forelimbs are shaped like flippers (Voeltzkowia yamagishii has claws). The scientific name Voeltzkowia mobydick consists of the pre-existing parent genus Voeltzkowia, and the name of the white sperm whale from the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. The species name is appropriate because whales have no hind limbs, only forelimbs shaped like flippers, and so does this species of skink. It also lacks pigmentation as Moby Dick did.[1]
The type series consists of two specimens that measured 67–71 mm (2.6–2.8 in) in snout–vent length. The body is about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide at midbody. In preserved specimens, body is entirely pale with eyes visible as dark spots. Colour is assumed to be pinkish in live animals.[1]
Distribution
editThis species is endemic to Madagascar, specifically the Sofia Region. The type locality is the urban commune of Boriziny (French: Port-Bergé), Sofia Region, Madagascar.[1]
Taxonomy
editIn 2015 it was reassigned to the genus Voeltzkowia, as Voeltzkowia mobydick, by Miralles et al.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Miralles, Aurélien [in French]; Mirana Anjeriniaina; Christy A. Hipsley; Johannes Müller; Frank Glaw & Miguel Vences (2012). "Variations on a bauplan: description of a new Malagasy "mermaid skink" with flipper-like forelimbs only (Scincidae, Sirenoscincus Sakata & Hikida, 2003)". Zoosystema. 34 (4): 701–719. doi:10.5252/z2012n4a3. S2CID 85920009. (Sirenoscincus mobydick, new species).
- ^ a b c Voeltzkowia mobydick at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 July 2016.
- ^ Vences, Miguel; Müller, Johannes; Glaw, Frank; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Gehara, Marcelo; Erens, Jesse; Hipsley, Christy A. & Miralles, Aurélien (2015). "Distinct patterns of desynchronized limb regression in Malagasy scincine lizards (Squamata, Scincidae)". PLOS ONE. 10 (6): e0126074. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0126074. PMC 4456255. PMID 26042667.. (Voeltzkowia mobydick, new combination).
External links
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Data related to Voeltzkowia mobydick at Wikispecies
Media related to Sirenoscincus mobydick at Wikimedia Commons
