Ablepharus Research Articles

A treasure trove of endemics: two new species of snake-eyed skinks of the genus Panaspis Cope, 1868 (Squamata, Scincidae) from the Serra da Neve Inselberg, southwestern Angola

Four species of the genus Panaspis – P. cabindae, P. wahlbergi, P. maculicollis and P. mocamedensis – are currently known from Angola. The analysis of recently collected specimens from Serra da Neve Inselberg, an isolated mountain located in northern Namibe Province, revealed unexpected taxonomic diversity in the group. Using an integrative taxonomy approach based on morphological and DNA sequence data, with both mitochondrial (16S) and nuclear (RAG-1) genes, we were able to distinguish two distinct populations, described here as two new species, Panaspis ericaesp. nov. and P. mundavambosp. nov. Both species are assumed to be endemic to the inselberg. This reinforces our notion of southwestern Angola as a hotspot of skink diversity, and highlights the urgent need for the conservation of Serra da Neve.

New records of Cryptoblepharus cursor Barbour, 1911 (Squamata, Scincidae, Eugongylinae) from Java, Indonesia

he Lombok Snake-eyed Skink, Cryptoblepharus cursor Barbour, 1911 has been recorded in South Java prior to 1940. However, information on its population on the island are scarce. This study presents new records of C. cursor from Java. Visual Encounter Survey were conducted to observe habitat selections and collect skinks as voucher specimens. South Javan C. cursor are restricted to sandy littoral zones with Ipomoea pescaprae (L.) R.Br. – Spinifex littoreus (Burm.f.) Merr. whereas Lombok C. cursor are saxicolous, preferring rocky coasts. They also differ from the scansorial C. balinensis Barbour, 1911, a sympatric congener from Java.

Hiding in the valley: a new national record of Ablepharus eremchenkoi, with rediscovery of Ablepharus alaicus in China: phylogeny, morphology and natural history notes

The genus Ablepharus Lichtenstein, 1823 contains the common snake-eyed skinks, distributed from southern Europe and northern Africa to eastern Asia. Ablepharus alaicus Elpatjevsky, 1901 inhabits Central Asia and, according to historical literature, was once recorded in north-western China. However, there are no voucher records of this species from China. Some populations of a subspecies of A. alaicus have been elevated to new species, for example, A. eremchenkoi (Panfilov, 1999). However, no detailed studies have been conducted. In August and September 2023, we captured sixteen and fourteen skink specimens from Wuqia County and Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, respectively, in Xinjiang, northwest China. Morphological and phylogenetic comparisons showed that the skinks collected from these two locations belong to A. eremchenkoi and A. alaicus, respectively. In this study, we confirmed the first record of A. eremchenkoi in China, rediscovered A. alaicus, reported voucher records for these two skinks and reviewed the taxonomic history of Ablepharus in Xinjiang, northwest China.

16S rRNA Gene Sequencing-Based Identification and Comparative Analysis of the Fecal Microbiota of Five Syntopic Lizard Species from a Low-Mountain Area in Western Bulgaria

Studies on the gut microbiome of free-living reptiles in Europe are generally fragmentary and still missing in Bulgaria. We aimed to identify and compare the fecal microbiota profiles of five syntopic lizard species from three families: the European green lizard (Lacerta viridis), the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), the meadow lizard (Darevskia praticola) (Lacertidae), the European snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii) (Scincidae), and the European slow worm (Anguis fragilis) (Anguidae), which coinhabit a low mountainous area in the western part of the country. A high-throughput sequencing of the hypervariable V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, performed on the Illumina HiSeq2500 platform, was used. The core microbiota of lizard hosts seems to be species-specific. A dynamic phyla proportion between hosts was found. The richest alpha diversity was observed in D. praticola, and the lowest alpha diversity was observed in P. muralis and A. fragilis. Within the three lacertids, the microbiota of D. praticola and L. viridis were more closely related to each other than they were to those of P. muralis. Sharing a largely common trophic resource (all species except A. fragilis are mainly insectivorous) was not an indication of similarity in their gut microbial communities.

Climatic Niche Divergence and Conservatism Promote Speciation in Snake-Eyed Skinks (Sauria: Scincidae): New Insight into the Evolution and Diversification of Ablepharus Species

Climatic Niche Divergence and Conservatism Promote Speciation in Snake-Eyed Skinks (Sauria: Scincidae): New Insight into the Evolution and Diversification of Ablepharus Species

Valorization of the newly discovered European snake-eyed skink population (Ablepharus kitaibelii) on Stinice, Papuk Mountain in Croatia

The European snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii) is an endangered lizard species in Croatia, limited to a very small area in Papuk Nature Park, and several localities in the town of Ilok and the surrounding area. On Mt Papuk, the species is limited to an area of the warm southern slopes of the Turjak-Mališćak-Pliš peaks, above Velika. In the year 2019, the species was documented in a new location, on Stinice. The aim of this study is to analyse morphometric measures, relative density, predatory pressure, and to determine the sustainability of this population. Data obtained were compared with the previous research into the European snake-eyed skink on Turjak, the most researched European snake-eyed skink site on Papuk so far. The population on Stinice has lower density, and is under higher predatory pressure than the population on Turjak. Also, there are differences in some morphometric measures between these two populations that should be further explored.

Ecology, Population Density, and Translocation of the Snake-Eyed Skink (<i>Ablepharus kitaibelii</i>) in Westernmost Populations

Westernmost population of the Snake-eyed Skink is found in Papuk, Croatia, and is the closest to the population from Ilok, Croatia. So far, the ecology of any of them has not been studied, and here, we document the variation between them. Furthermore, we estimated population density in Papuk using line transects, and quantitatively assessed its viability, i.e., chances for its survival under different scenarios; under current situation, with increased habitat, and with the negative effect of catastrophic events (e.g., forest fires, habitat degradation). Our study suggests that the climate between the two populations differs significantly, while other general requirements of the species remain the same in both locations. In the Papuk area we estimated the total population size from 5036 to 5483 individuals, with a relative density of 97 individuals per hectare. The population viability results suggest that the extinction of the Papuk population is likely to happen due to the negative trend in the number of individuals over 100 years. This implies that the population is not stable and under current condition shows the need for urgent conservation measures. We modeled two measures, 1) restoration of habitat via the removal of black pine plantations, and 2) translocation of the Snake-eyed Skink into two new habitats. Both methods rely on the increase of available habitat, and both were implemented in the study area. In 2014 an area of 900 m2 of black pine forest was removed, and in 2014 and 2016 we translocated 100 individuals per year (altogether 200 individuals) into new habitats. Monitoring data confirmed that the newly established subpopulations are present at both sites, and are reproducing, which could imply that our translocation might be successful.

Morphometric and Reproductive Features of the Two-Streaked Snake-Eyed Skink (Ablepharus bivittatus (Menetries 1832), Reptilia, Scincidae) in the Talysh Mountains

Morphometric and Reproductive Features of the Two-Streaked Snake-Eyed Skink (Ablepharus bivittatus (Menetries 1832), Reptilia, Scincidae) in the Talysh Mountains

Basic characteristics of microhabitats of snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii) in Western Hungary

Abstract Following the rediscovery after 200 years of Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri in 2017, we carried out data collection its habitats regarding vegetation, microclimate, and soil on two prominent dolomite hills of the Eastern Bakony. Data collections were carried out in habitat mosaics (xerothermic forest edges on the plateaus, karst shrub forests in south-facing exposure, dry grasslands among forest patches on the plateaus, rocky grasslands in south-facing exposure) of three sampling blocks. Vegetation was examined by phytosociological relevés, microclimate from April to November continuously by TMS-2 dataloggers, and soil by laboratory analyses focused mainly on percentage of different fractions. According to our results a) shrub forests with a south-facing exposure provide a cooler microclimate with temperated fluctuation in the spring–early summer and late summer–early autumn periods; b) plateau grasslands and shrubs are characterised by looser soil structure. Based on our results, heterogeneous habitat character of forest–grassland mosaics of the Pannonicum can mitigate the expected negative effects of climate change on reptiles.

An agricultural practice as a direct threat to the snake-eyed skink Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) in central Greece

Terrestrial reptiles are threatened by numerous anthropogenic activities, including agriculture. Many agricultural methods and techniques affect the herpetofauna located in the oldest known tree crops in the Mediterranean Basin, olive trees. For the first time, we present a case of unintentional capture (and killing) of 12 snake-eyed skinks Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) on an insect control sticky trap in an olive grove in central Greece.

Nomenclatural-taxonomic notes on the genus Ablepharus Fitzinger, 1824 (Squamata: Scincidae).

The two following notes concern two species of small skinks, genus Ablepharus: Lindberg's Twin-striped Skink (Ablepharus lindbergi) and the Snake-eyed Skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii). Both species are small fossorial/semi-fossorial skinks with fused eyelids and a hidden lifestyle. A. kitaibelii is distributed disjunctly in several subspecies in Central and Southeastern Europe as well as in Western Turkey, A. lindbergi is distributed in Western Afghanistan (Uetz et al. 2020).

A new species of African Snake-Eyed Skink (Scincidae: Panaspis) from Ethiopia.

A recent molecular phylogenetic revision of the snake-eyed skinks (genus Panaspis Cope, 1868) uncovered extensive cryptic diversity, including several new species from throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we describe one of these from Ethiopia as Panaspis annettesabinae sp. nov. This description is based on a previous molecular phylogeny and morphological, scalation, and coloration data collected from the type specimen. Phylogenetic analyses place the species alone in what we term the P. annettesabinae species group from Ethiopia. This group forms the sister lineage to a large southern African radiation and suggests a potential northern origin for much of the extant diversity of Panaspis. Many new taxa have recently been discovered in the genus and region, and there are several historical records of Panaspis from elsewhere in Ethiopia. Thus, we suggest that the range of this new species (known only from a single specimen at present) may be much larger, and that additional undescribed species may exist in northern sub-Saharan Africa.

A review of the African snake-eyed skinks (Scincidae: Panaspis) from Angola, with the description of a new species.

The genus Panaspis in Angola is represented by four species, most of them part of taxonomically and nomenclaturally challenging species-complexes. We present a taxonomic revision of the group in the region and describe one new species, Panaspis mocamedensis sp. nov., endemic to the lowland areas of the Namibe province, southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analysis using a combination of mitochondrial (16S, cytb) and nucleares (RAG1, PDC) markers, as well as morphological and meristic data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, these data support the presence of nominotypical Panaspis cabindae, P. wahlbergi and P. maculicollis in Angola. Reexamination of the Angolan population of P. breviceps was based on morphological analysis, as no molecular data from Angola is available for this species. According to our results, this population likely represents the nominotypical form, but due to its complex taxonomic and nomenclatural history and the lack of molecular data, this population needs to be reconsidered when molecular data become available. The description of a new species and revision of the Angolan Panaspis contributes to a better understanding of the true species richness of the Angolan herpetofauna, as well as to understanding the major biogeographic patterns of the region. A key to Angolan Panaspis species is also presented.

New locality record of Ablepharus budaki (Squamata: Scincidae) in Turkey

The Budak’s snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus budaki) is recorded from Sütçüler District of Isparta province in Turkey. The metric and meristic characters of the specimens were found similar to the specimens of A. budaki reported in the literature. Surprisingly, the new locality in the present study coincides exactly among to the distribution areas of A. kitaibelii, A. budaki and the mixed clade specified in the literature.

Injuries reflecting intra- and interspecific interactions in the Snake-eyed Skink Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) (Squamata, Scincidae) from Bulgaria

The Snake-eyed Skink’s intra- and inter-specific interactions and their impacts on the individual (e.g. injuries) have received little attention so far. As part of copulation, male lizards bite the females; observations confirm an old report that bites occur in the fore side of the body, along with more recently published information about the back side. Additionally, out of 435 individuals observedin situ, 10 had missing extremities (toes, ankles, etc.); however, further studies should identify the causes of such injury, e.g. male-male combat, predators. For the first time, an adult male was observed biting a juvenileex situ; the specific reasons, however, remain unknown. This report should generate further interest in ecological and behavioral studies, assessing the costs and benefits to potential territorial defense, intra-specific combat, and predator pressure and escape mechanisms.

Life history and ecology of the elegant snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher) in south-eastern Australia

Detailed information on life history and ecology is essential for successful conservation and management. However, we have relatively little detailed data on the life history and ecology of most small lizard species, relative to other vertebrates, especially those that have undergone recent taxonomic changes. We studied the ecology of the elegant snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher), a lizard that occurs on trees, fences, walls, and rock outcroppings in eastern Australia that spans temperate to tropical environments. In our temperate-zone study population living in natural habitat, individuals are active year-round, and gravid females were found during the months of September through December. Sexual maturity is reached in 12 months, lifespan is at least three years, and clutch size is typically two eggs. In laboratory incubation experiments, larger eggs were more likely to hatch. Low incubation temperatures (averaging 23 ± 7.5°C versus high temperatures averaging 26 ± 7.5°C) increased incubation duration significantly (range 56–72 days versus 40–51 days) and reduced the body size of hatchlings significantly (17.8 mm versus 18.7 mm snout–vent length). Skinks sheltered beneath small rocks that were not shared simultaneously with predatory snakes, and that reached average temperatures that were up to 3°C warmer during the day than unused rocks. Preferred microhabitats include substrates of rock or soil, and the largest rocks were occasionally shared by up to four individuals of all body size/sex combinations (5.8% of observations were shared, 30.2% of individual rocks were shared). Our study expands upon knowledge of the widespread genus Cryptoblepharus by providing detailed life history and ecological information on C. pulcher that can serve as a baseline for future studies.

A new species of African snake-eyed skink (Scincidae: Panaspis) from central and northern Namibia

A recent molecular revision of the snake-eyed skinks of the genus Panaspis Cope, 1868 uncovered extensive cryptic diversity within the P. wahlbergi (Smith, 1849) and P. maculicollis Jacobsen Broadley, 2000 species complexes. We here describe an unnamed central and northern Namibian lineage of the P. maculicollis group as a new species. We base the description on previously published molecular evidence and newly collected morphological, meristic and coloration data. Members of the group share a conservative morphology and the newly described species is very similar to P. maculicollis, from which it differs mostly on the basis of its coloration. This description raises the number of Panaspis recognized to 17 species and reinforces the already strong evidence that northern Namibia is a hotspot of reptile diversity.

Notes on the hatching phases and the size of the juveniles in the Snake-eyed skink Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833)

Abstract Most of the studies dealing with the Snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii) treat predominantly aspects of the distribution and taxonomy of the species. In the present study we provide information concerning the mechanism of hatching in the Snake-eyed skink and the dimensions of the hatched specimens. We collected data from wild animals, as well as from indoor incubated juveniles. The present study provides the first data concerning the weight of the newly hatched juveniles of the species and discuss on potential misleading data concerning the size of the juveniles in A. kitaibelii.

First record of tail bifurcations in the snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii Bibron & Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1833) from Pastrina hill (northwestern Bulgaria)

espanolRegistramos el primer caso de bifurcaciones caudales en A. kitaibelii. Esta anomalia morfologica fue identificada en un estudio de seguimiento de cuatro anos realizado en una zona de elevada presencia herpetologica en el monte Pastrina (noroeste de Bulgaria). De un total de 415 especimenes capturados, cuatro (0,96%) presentaron una duplicacion lateral simetrica o asimetrica de la cola. Se registraron unicamente bifurcaciones de la seccion caudal mas distal, lo que contrasta con las registradas en otros lagartos como, por ejemplo, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae y Teiidae, en los que se han registrado supervivencias con bifurcaciones en las secciones caudales mas proximales. catalaRegistrem el primer cas de bifurcacions caudals en A. kitaibelii. Aquesta anomalia morfologica va ser identificada en un estudi de seguiment de quatre anys portat a terme en una zona d’elevada presencia herpetologica al puig Pastrina (nord-oest de Bulgaria). D’un total de 415 especimens capturats, quatre (0,96%) van presentar una duplicacio lateral simetrica o asimetrica de la cua. Nomes es van registrar bifurcacions de la seccio caudal mes distal, la qual cosa contrasta amb les registrades en altres llangardaixos com ara Gekkonidae, Lacertidae i Teiidae, en que s’han registrat supervivencies amb bifurcacions a les seccions caudals mes proximals. EnglishWe report for the first time on the occurrence of tail bifurcations in the snake-eyed skink (A. kitaibelii). This morphological anomaly was identified during a four-year monitoring program conducted in a herpetological hot-spot at Pastrina hill (northwestern Bulgaria). From a total of 415 captured specimens, four animals (0.96%) showed symmetrical or asymmetrical lateral duplication of the tail. Only bifurcations of the distal-most caudal section were detected in contrast to some other lizards (e.g. Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, Teiidae) that are reported to survive with bifurcations at more proximal tail sections.

Phenotypical variation and Distribution of the Snake-eyed Skink, Ablepharus bivittatus (Sauria: Scincidae), Iran

Phenotypical variation and Distribution of the Snake-eyed Skink, Ablepharus bivittatus (Sauria: Scincidae), Iran