Tag Archives: Scincidae

“Scelotes” sp. ‘Aldabra’

Aldabra Burrowing Skink (“Scelotes” sp.)

This taxon is known from fossil remains that were recovered from deposits on Grande Terre, the largest of the island that form the Aldabra Atoll in the southern Seychelles.

However, given the fact that this genus currently occurs only in southern Africa, it is rather likely that the remains from Aldabra may have been misidentified.

The species might have reached a size of about 15 to 18 cm (including the tail).

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References:

[1] E. N. Arnold: Fossil reptiles from Aldabra atoll, Indian Ocean. bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Zoology 29(2): 83-116. 1976

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edited: 02.03.2024

Leiolopisma mauritiana (Günther)

Mauritian Giant Skink (Leiolopisma mauritiana)

The Mauritian Giant Skink was described in 1877; it is, however, only known from subfossil remains.

The species was one of the largest skinks in the world, it might have reached a size of over 60 cm.

The Mauritian Giant Skink was never mentioned in any of the many contemporaneous traveler’s accounts about the island’s fauna and flora that have survived to this day. [1]

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References:

[1] Anthony Cheke; Julian P. Hume: Lost Land of the Dodo: The ecological history of Mauritius, Réunion, and Redrigues. Yale University Press 2008

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edited: 04.05.2022

Leiolopisma ceciliae Arnold & Bour

Arnold’s Skink (Leiolopisma ceciliae)

 

Arnold’s Skink was described in 2008 based on subfossil remains that had been recovered from deposits of the Grotte au Sable in Saint-Paul, the second-largest commune of Réunion.

The species was closely related to Telfair-Skink (Leiolopisma telfairii (Desjardins)) (see photo below) from Mauritius, but was even larger; in life, this species must have had a size of over 40 cm (including the tail).

In contrast to many other animals that formerly inhabited the Mascarene islands, no written accounts exist that could be assigned to this species. [1]

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References:

[1] E. Nicholas Arnold; Roger Bour: A new Nactus gecko (Gekkonidae) and a new Leiolopisma skin (Scincidae) from La Réunion, Indian Ocean, based on recent fossil remains and ancient DNA sequence. Zootaxa 1705: 40-50. 2008
[2] Anthony Cheke; Julian P. Hume: Lost Land of the Dodo: The ecological history of Mauritius, Réunion, and Redrigues. Yale University Press 2008

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Telfair Skink (Leiolopisma telfairii); Photo: Wouter Van Landuyt (public domain)

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edited: 04.05.2022

Gongylomorphus borbonicus Vinson & Vinson

Reunion Slit-eyed Skink (Gongylomorphus borbonicus)

The Reunion Slit-eyed Skink was endemic to La Réunion in the Indian Ocean.

The species was last collected in 1839, its extinction is attributed to the Wolf Snake (Lycodon capucinus F. Boie), a small, mildly venomous snake from South Asia specialized in hunting small reptiles, that was accidently introduced to the Mascarene Islands in the middle of the 19th century. [1]

The Reunion Slit-eyed Skink’s next living relative is Bojer’s Skink (Gongylomorphus bojerii (Desjardins)) (see photo below), which is restricted to the island of Mauritius.

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References:

[1] Anthony Cheke; Julian P. Hume: Lost Land of the Dodo: The ecological history of Mauritius, Réunion, and Redrigues. Yale University Press 2008

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Bojer’s Skink (Gongylomorphus bojerii)

Photo: Ben Dymond
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/gagnebina

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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edited: 04.05.2022

Chioninia coctei (Duméril & Bibron)

Cape Verde Giant Skink (Chioninia coctei)

The Cape Verde Giant Skink was once thought to have inhabited all of the islands of the Cape Verde archipelago; however, some of the island populations are now known to have constituted additional species – all of them now extinct.

Thus, the Giant Skink is exclusively known from the two tiny islets of Branco and Raso.

The species could reach lengths of up to 47 cm (including the tail), the males were usually larger than the females; it was a vegetarian and is known to have preferred the leaves and flowers of native mallows (Malva spp.).

The Cape Verde Giant Skink disappeared sometimes between 1914 and 1940.

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Depiction from: ‘Alphonse Trémeau de Rochebrune: Faune de la Sénégambie. Paris, O. Doin 1883-1887’ 

(public domain)

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edited: 05.01.2024