Eumeces schneiderii pavimentatus (Schneideri’s Skink / Sarı Kertenkele, Keçemen) from Ceyhan, Adana- 26.05.2007.
Schneideri’s Skink is one of the largest skink, with well-developed limbs and not reduced fingers. It is also the largest lizard, reaching a maximum length of around 35-40 cm, exceptionally even more. Original tail is around 1.5 times SVL; many individuals posses a shorter regenerated tail. Its range extends from N Africa, Anatolia, Cyprus Island to W and Middle Asia with a vertical distribution to 1800 m.
The robust head is triangular, not distinct from neck. Rostral plate does not contact external nares; Nasal plates are in contact with the two anterior supralabials. Eyes are relatively large, with well-developed movable eyelids and the lower eyelid with scales; Ear opening anteriorly partly covered by 3-4 enlarged lobular scales, called as Auriculum. The most distinctive characteristic of the species is a striking longitudinal orange or yellowish band usually present on the flanks.
General coloration and pattern change in different subspecies -[E. s.schneiderii, E. s. pavimentatus, E. s. princeps, E. s. barani, all of them, except E. s. schneiderii, found in Turkey]-; brownish, greyish or olive grey above, with a yellow to orange lateral stripe starting from posterior supralabials and running from the head to sides of the tail. Dorsal pattern consists of bright orange interspersed scales, which can fuse and form incomplete crossbars. On the dorsum of the tail, orange scales often fuse. Similarly, orange scales are scattered on limbs. Belly is whitish to yellowish.
Schneideri’s Skink is a diurnal terrestrial lizard. it can be found basking near its shelters. It is a rather shy lizard, difficult to approach as it runs for rather long distances and then retreats in dense bushes, under stones, or in burrows, when disturbed. Food consists of a wide spectrum of large invertebrates, mostly of orthopterans and beetles. Oviparous. We observed that the females are guarded the eggs during the incubation period in captivity. Inhabits bushy open places with rocky substrates, and gardens. Hides under stones, in holes and burrows dug by itself or other burrowing animals. Feeds on insects, other invertebrates and lizards.
The subspecies of pavimentatus photographed here is distributed in Mersin (Icel), Adana, Antakia (the western parts of Amonos Mts) provinces in Anatolia to Israel along the Meditterranean ecozone, including Sinai, Syria and Jordan. It typically has white interrupted longitudinal stripes on body.
References: 1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips. 2. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008]. 3. Göçmen, B., Senol, A. & Mermer, A. (2002). A New Record of Schneider's Skink, Eumeces schneideri Daudin, 1802 (Sauria: Scincidae) from Cyprus. Zoology in the Midle East, 25:19-22. 4. Göçmen, B., Kasot, N., Yildiz, M.Z., Sas, I., Akman, B., Yalçinkaya, D. & Gücel, S. (2008). Results of the Herpetological Trips to Northern Cyprus. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 4 (1): 139-149. 5. Atatür, M. K & Göçmen, B. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Cyprus (1st Edition), Ege Üniversitesi, Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 170, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 63 pp (ISBN 975-483-486-5) [In Turkish & English]. [A PDF-Printable Version is present in my web site]. 6. Disi, A. M., Modry, D., Necas, P. & Rifai, L. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira, 408 pp. 7. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
Author | Bayram GÖÇMEN |
Created on | Saturday 26 May 2007 |
Posted on | Thursday 14 July 2011 |
Tags | Adana, TURKEY / TÜRKİYE |
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