The Fuerteventura skink (Chalcides simonyi) is an endangered ovoviviparous species of skink in the family Scincidae. Skinks are generally characterized by their smaller legs and less pronounced necks compared to typical lizards.

Chalcides simonyi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Chalcides
Species:
C. simonyi
Binomial name
Chalcides simonyi
(Steindachner, 1891)
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Chalcides viridanus
    Gravenhorst, 1851
  • Chalcides polylepis simonyi
    Steindachner, 1891
  • Chalcides polylepis occidentalis
    Steindachner, 1900

Etymology

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The specific name, simonyi, is in honor of Viennese naturalist Oskar Simonyi (1852–1915), who also described El Hierro giant lizard in the same region.[3]

Geographic range

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C. simonyi is found only on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.[1]

Habitat

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The natural habitats of C. simonyi are temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, rocky areas, pastureland, and urban areas.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Bowles, P. (2024). "Chalcides simonyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024: e.T61488A137849061. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  2. ^ Uetz, Peter (2023-10-02). "Chalcides simonyi". The Reptile Database. Zoological Museum Hamburg. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  3. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Chalcides simonyi, p. 244).

Further reading

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  • Steindachner F (1891). "Ueber die Reptilien und Batrachier der westlichen und östlichen Gruppe der canarischen Inseln ". Ann. K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, Wien 6: 287–306. (Chalcides simonyi, new species, pp. 299–300). (in German).