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Background Thelandros (Pharyngodonidae) is a gastrointestinal nematode parasite with a life cycle including lizards as main hosts. Thelandros chalcidae collected from the large intestine of the Egyptian ocellated skink, Chalcides ocellatus were described and illustrated by light and scanning electron microscopes. Seven out of fifteen (46.66%) of the examined lizards were found to be naturally infected. Also, host intestinal tissues were evaluated from hematoxylin/eosin-stained sections to describe any histopathological changes. Results Microscopic examinations revealed that the recovered pharyngodonid species characterized by mouth with triangular opening and surrounded by six simple lips, the cuticle had regular transverse annulations extending from the posterior margin of the lips to the end of the body. Male was cylindrical with distinct truncated posterior end and measured 1.59–1.86 (1.64 ± 0.10) long and 0.29–0.37 (0.32 ± 0.01) in maximum width at the level of mid-body. Female measured 1.72–2.43 (1.85 ± 0.2) long and 0.36–0.49 (0.42 ± 0.01) maximum width at the mid-body level, terminated posteriorly in a short, stout spike. Histological studies observed structural alterations represented by leukocytic infiltration, villi atrophy, and muscularis degeneration. These changes were indicative of inflammatory and degenerative reaction due to Thelandros chalcidae infection. Conclusion The present morphological study revealed that the recovered pharyngodonid species was Thelandros chalcidae causing pathological alterations in Chalcides ocellatus intestinal tissues.

Altered climate regimes have the capacity to affect the physiology, development, ecology and behaviour of organisms dramatically, with consequential changes in individual fitness and so the ability of populations to persist under climatic change. More directly, extreme temperatures can directly skew the population sex ratio in some species, with substantial demographic consequences that influence the rate of population decline and recovery rates. In contrast, this is particularly true for species whose sex is determined entirely by temperature (TSD). The recent discovery of sex reversal in species with genotypic sex determination (GSD) due to extreme environmental temperatures in the wild broadens the range of species vulnerable to changing environmental temperatures through an influence on primary sex ratio. Here we document the levels of sex reversal in nests of the Australian alpine three-lined skink (Bassiana duperreyi), a species with sex chromosomes and sex reversal at temperatures below 20 °C and variation in rates of sex reversal with elevation. The frequency of sex reversal in nests of B. duperreyi ranged from 28.6% at the highest, coolest locations to zero at the lowest, warmest locations. Sex reversal in this alpine skink makes it a sensitive indicator of climate change, both in terms of changes in average temperatures and in terms of climatic variability.

The introduction of species outside their native range is an insidious form of human-induced environmental change, with mounting evidence that behaviour, either through plastic behavioural responses or adaptive changes, can play a vital role in mediating invasion success. In particular, when species invade non-native habitats, they often leave behind native predators. Altered predator assemblages may then result in changes to antipredator responses overtime. Here, we capitalise on the well-characterised invasion history of an Australian reptile, the delicate skink, Lampropholis delicata, to investigate differences in antipredator responses between an invasive island population (Lord Howe Island) and its original mainland source (Coffs Harbour) following 40 generations of isolation. Specifically, we examined the responses of invasive and native skinks to scent cues taken from huntsman spiders, Heteropoda sp., a predator present in both populations, and red-bellied black snakes, Pseudechis porphyriacus, a predator absent from the invasive range. We measured the time skinks took to emerge from a shelter site and subsequent basking and foraging behaviours in the absence and presence of each predator scent. We did not detect any differences in responses between native and invasive skinks, although predator scent affected foraging behaviour. In a separate experiment, lizards were faced with a simulated bird strike and had the choice of retreating under a snake-scented or unscented shelter. When faced with such a threat, we found that skinks did not avoid snake-scented shelters. We also measured the activity and exploratory behaviour of each skink prior to exposure to predator cues, finding that increased activity and exploration appears to be linked to reduced antipredator behaviour for invasive but not native skinks. Contrary to our initial predictions, our results suggest that the relaxation of pressure from native predators may not necessarily translate to changes in key antipredator responses in invasive species, even after 40 generations of isolation. Human movement introduce species into novel areas, where they are confronted with a suite of ecological challenges that must be navigated, including changes to predator assemblages, in order to successfully establish and become invasive. Altered predator assemblages encountered by invasive species may, in turn, result in changes to, or loss of, antipredator responses over time. We studied such a scenario in the delicate skink, an Australian lizard that has been repeatedly introduced to new areas. We compared the antipredator behaviour of skinks from an invasive island population to skinks from their original mainland source. We found that despite 40 generations of isolation, invasive skinks do not differ from native skinks in their antipredator behaviour. However, we found that greater activity and exploration levels had become linked to reduced antipredator behaviour in invasive but not native skinks.

According to a large morphological dataset of specimens from Turkey to Iran and based on several morphological analyses, the Iranian populations of the skink Heremites vittatus are separated from other populations of this taxon in Turkey. The values of most of morphological characters were higher in the Turkish populations. Morphological variation among populations of H. vittatus (Olivier, 1804) from Turkey and the western slopes of the Zagros Mountains in Kermanshah province in Iran may be the result of different dispersal and vicariance events. Comparison the current study dataset with specimens from Egypt can definite the taxonomic status of Iranian and Turkish populations.

Plestiodon longirostris is a critically endangered endemic skink living in the Bermuda archipelago. To know their intestinal parasites and evaluate the role that they may have in the conservation of the species, we have carried out a faecal analysis of some samples obtained from several populations. This type of analysis is presented as the most suitable for threatened species. The results show that P. longirostris has incorporated parasites from introduced species in Bermuda, and it is a competent host for these parasites. Nevertheless, the low prevalence of infection of these parasites suggests that they are not actually a threat to the endemic skink populations.

We examined the holotype of Euprepes innotatus Blanford, 1870 which was presented to the Natural History Museum, London (NHMUK) by Blanford himself, and is redescribed herein. Based on the morphological similarity, we placed Eutropis innotata within the E. carinata group (contra Blanford, 1870), as it is closely allied to E. dissimilis and E. carinata in morphological and morphometric traits. Based on the current distribution pattern, we conducted Species Distribution Modelling using the Maximum Entropy algorithm and the distribution range of this species was predicted to be wider than the currently known limits within the south-central parts of the Deccan plateau. Furthermore, we updated the conservation status of E. innotata using the criteria of the IUCN Red List, and suggested it be considered as a species of Least Concern.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:53:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-10-26 We evaluated the activity period, thermal ecology, habitats, and preference for microhabitats of the skink Mabuya arajara in a humid forest environment on the slope of the Araripe Plateau, Brazil. A total of 283 lizards were observed. The lizards were found to be diurnally active (unimodal type pattern), with peak activity during the hottest hours of the day (1100 to 1200). About habitat use, the majority of individuals (73.8% N = 209) were recorded in the narrow transitional area, in the edges of the forest; while 26.4% of individuals were observed in open areas and no observations were made in dense forest. Seven different types of microhabitats were used, with fallen palm leaves (Arecaceae) being the preferred (47.7% N = 135). Considering all lizards, microhabitat niche breadth was 3.27. Males and females presented a high overlap (0.95) in microhabitat use. The average Tc recorded for M. arajara was 32.06 ± 2.72°C. Body size (SVL) did not influence body temperature (F = 0.51, P = > 0.05). Most of the animals were observed with their bodies completely exposed (67.84%, N = 192), 18.37% (N = 52) were semi-exposed and 13.79% (N = 39) were in shelters. Among animals with some degree of sunlight exposure, 57.59% (N = 163) were in shadows, 25.10% (N = 71) were under sunlight filtered by vegetation, and 17.31% (N = 49) were under direct sunlight.A review of the ecology of Mabuya spp. shows that several features appear to be conserved among members of the genus. Laboratório de Biologia e Ecologia de Animais Silvestres–LABEAS Instituto de Formação de Educadores–IFE Universidade Federal do Cariri–UFCA Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioprospecção Molecular Universidade Regional do Cariri–URCA Departamento de Química Biológica Universidade Regional do Cariri–URCA Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia Universidade Federal da Paraíba–UFPB Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira Departamento de Biologia e Zootecnia UNESP–Universidade Estadual Paulista Campus de Ilha Solteira Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva UNIFESP–Universidade Federal de São Paulo Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira Departamento de Biologia e Zootecnia UNESP–Universidade Estadual Paulista Campus de Ilha Solteira

The early middle Miocene (MN 5) lizards from the East Siberian Tagay locality (Baikal Lake, Russia) in Asia are described here. The lizard fauna consists of two clades, Lacertidae and Scincidae. The skink material is allocated to Chalcides. While this taxon was previously reported from Europe, it has rarely been observed in the Neogene record with only jaw fragments and frontal bones described. Its taxonomy was therefore enigmatic. The Tagay material is almost identical to the European fossils of Chalcides from Austria and Hungary, but it also contains the parietal bone. While the material is also similar to the extant Ch. ocellatus, it exhibits several morphological differences. A new species is therefore erected-Chalcides augei sp. nov. These findings further support the connection of the Baikal Lake area with central Europe during the first half of the Miocene. The comparative anatomy of the frontals, parietals and lower jaws was evaluated by micro-CT in selected skink taxa. This comparison highlights several important differences, for example, paired frontals are present in Broadleysaurus (an outgroup taxon), in Acontias and all studied members of Scincidae herein. The character optimization in Mesquite supports fused frontals as being the condition at the basal node of the Ateuchosauridae + Sphenomorphidae + Eugongylidae + Lygosomidae + Egerniidae + Mabuyidae clade. While the parapineal foramen is restricted to the parietal in most taxa studied herein, it is absent (or vestigial) in Acontias and Feylinia. In contrast to all other skinks, this foramen is located on the frontal in Ateuchosaurus chinensis. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy Anat Rec, 303:1901-1934, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.

Upper thermal limits are commonly measured in ectotherms; however, the effects of life-history stages, and in particular pregnancy in viviparous species, are rarely considered. In this study, we examined whether two measures of upper thermal tolerance varied among life-history stages in a viviparous New Zealand skink (Oligosoma maccanni). First, we measured voluntary thermal maxima (VTmax) and critical thermal maxima (CTmax) for four groups: late-pregnant females, newly postpartum females, males, and neonates. Second, we examined whether exposing skinks to their CTmax in late pregnancy affected success of pregnancies or size and performance of offspring. We found that both VTmax and CTmax differed among the four groups, although only CTmax differed enough to detect specific pairwise differences. Pregnant skinks and neonates had a significantly lower CTmax than postpartum skinks, and pregnant skinks also had a lower CTmax than males. Effect sizes were very large between groups, where CTmax differed significantly, and borderline large for VTmax between male and neonate skinks and between postpartum and pregnant females. Pregnancy success, and the size and sprint speed of resulting neonates were not affected by thermal-tolerance tests on late-pregnant females. The reduction in CTmax we observed in pregnant skinks could indicate that at high temperatures, pregnant skinks do not have the same ability to keep up with oxygen demands as non-pregnant skinks-possibly reflecting reduced ventilation capacity simultaneous with high oxygen demands from embryos as well as maternal tissues. These findings are consistent with some studies, showing that reduced oxygen availability can reduce thermal tolerance in reptiles.

Sadlier, Ross A., Frankham, Greta J., Beatson, Cecilie A., Eldridge, Mark D. B., Rowley, Jodi J. L. (2019): Genetic Evidence in Support of the Recognition of the Kaputar Rock Skink, one of New South Wales' Most Range-restricted Vertebrate Species. Records of the Australian Museum 71 (5): 183-197, DOI: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.71.2019.1716

1. Desert river floodplains are resource rich but high-risk habitats. For surface-dwelling animals in these habitats, persistence is a trade-off between the advantages of relatively abundant food resources and the costs of episodic surface disturbances from infrequent but unpredictable rainfall events. 2. In central Australia, there are few non-flying, terrestrial species that are specialised floodplain occupants, and their persistence strategies are not well understood. 3. Using photographic mark-recapture and scat DNA, we observed a population of one such desert floodplain specialist, Slater's skink Liopholis slateri, over four years to understand how it persists in these disturbance-prone habitats. 4. We found evidence of a highly mobile, but site stable population, with spatial clustering of burrows into local ‘neighbourhoods’. There were relatively low fluctuations in population size among years, with a second seasonal breeding event following heavy rain in January 2015. We observed both long-term residence of individuals and long-term use of burrows at the site. 5. Frequent movements within and among neighbourhoods, and regular burrow construction, suggest a population capable of dispersal in the event of high intensity disturbance. Dispersing individuals and some neighbourhoods may act as recolonization sources in the event of a flood extirpating the core population.

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.

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread in animals, especially in lizards (Reptilia: Squamata), and is driven by fecundity selection, male–male competition, or other adaptive hypotheses. However, these selective pressures may vary through different life history periods; thus, it is essential to assess the relationship between growth and SSD. In this study, we tracked SSD dynamics between a “fading‐tail color skink” (blue tail skink whose tail is only blue during its juvenile stage: Plestiodon elegans) and a “nonfade color” tail skink (retains a blue tail throughout life: Plestiodon quadrilineatus) under a controlled experimental environment. We fitted growth curves of morphological traits (body mass, SVL, and TL) using three growth models (Logistic, Gompertz, and von Bertalanffy). We found that both skinks have male‐biased SSD as adults. Body mass has a higher goodness of fit (as represented by very high R 2 values) using the von Bertalanffy model than the other two models. In contrast, SVL and TL for both skinks had higher goodness of fit when using the Gompertz model. Two lizards displayed divergent life history tactics: P. elegans grows faster, matures earlier (at 65 weeks), and presents an allometric growth rate, whereas P. quadrilineatus grows slower, matures later (at 106 weeks), and presents an isometric growth rate. Our findings imply that species‐ and sex‐specific trade‐offs in the allocation of energy to growth and reproduction may cause the growth patterns to diverge, ultimately resulting in the dissimilar patterns of SSD.

A study on the phylogenetic relationship of Bangladeshi Skink confirmed species as Eutropis multifasciata by Bayesian inference (BI) (100%) and 98% node support to maximum likelihood (ML) tree topology, respectively. The sequence divergences between Eutropis multifasciata and other congeneric species were significant, ranging from 0.1 to 13.6% for 16S rRNA. Intraspecific genetic divergence within E. multifasciata was estimated 10.3%. E. multifasciata formed a distinct clade with high posterior probability support. This maiden study on Bangladeshi Skink results support that one monophyletic subgroup containing all specimens of E. multifasciata and all recently recognized E. multifasciata populations have evolved from one common ancestor. Bangladesh J. Zool. 47(1): 13-25, 2019

Increasing rates of habitat fragmentation globally underscore the importance of understanding the full spectrum of fragmentation’s ecological consequences. Fragmentation alters the thermal environment of fragments, which may alter the body size of ectothermic organisms and in turn impact survival and reproduction. To determine whether experimental habitat fragmentation alters body size in the heliothermic, ground-dwelling common garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti). We use body size data spanning 29 years to experimentally test the prediction that lizards will experience morphological changes in forest fragments but not in non-fragmented controls. Lizards were smaller in forest fragments relative to those in the non-fragmented controls after the fragmentation treatment was applied. For lizards within forest fragments, the greater the exposure to deforested areas, the greater the decline in body size. This pattern was strongest in the first 5 years following fragmentation and weakened or reversed over time as the pine plantation matrix surrounding the fragments matured. Using sampling site-scale temperature data for the most recent 5 years of the experiment, we show that temperature predicts lizard body size. Our findings are consistent with predictions made under the temperature-size rule that ectotherms will be smaller in fragmented landscapes because of temperature increases at newly created edges. Our results raise new concerns about the effects of fragmentation on organisms in remnant patches and offer new research priorities, as more evidence is needed to determine the generality of body size declines in fragmented landscapes. Our results also highlight that body size declines, often attributed to climate change, may be amplified by habitat fragmentation, which has been global in its impact.

1. The invasive many-lined sun skink, Eutropis multifasciata, is established in much of southern Taiwan and is spreading northward. We investigated whether winter temperatures constrain further dispersion of this skink by comparing its cold tolerance to the spatial distribution of winter temperatures in Taiwan. 2. We measured the 28-day survival rate of this species at 4 constant temperatures (10−16 °C in 2 °C increments) and its critical thermal minimum (CTmin), i.e., the body temperature at which the righting reflex is lost during the cooling process. For comparison with the spatial distribution of temperatures over Taiwan, we used the biophysical model Niche Mapper™ in order to simulate the soil temperatures, where lizards are inactive in the winter, during the coldest month of the year, January, under three climatic scenarios (average temperature, average−3 °C, average+3 °C). 3. Our results indicate that this species has low tolerance to cold. Combining cold tolerance data with soil temperature data suggests that its upper elevation limit could range from 1000 m to 1500 m, above which the weather is lethal and precludes overwintering. The locations of sightings of E. multifasciata are consistent with this prediction, with no known locations above 500 m elevation. 4. This study highlights that the winter climate is a major factor in determining population establishment and hence in limiting this species’ range. Future studies would benefit from accounting for low winter temperatures and their potential influence on range limits of invasive species.

The critical thermal limits of organisms and the thermal sensitivity of their performance tend to vary predictably across latitudinal gradients. There has been comparatively less investigation into variation in thermal biology with elevation, despite similar gradients in environmental temperatures. To redress this, we examined critical thermal limits (CTmin and CTmax), thermal sensitivity of locomotor performance, and shelter site attributes, in three lizard species that replace one another along a contiguous elevation gradient in south-eastern Australia. The species examined consisted of a highland specialist, Liopholis guthega, mid-elevation species, Liopholis montana, and lowland species, Liopholis whitii. We found similar habitat attributes between the species, but L. guthega predominantly occurred in open habitat, which might reflect a strategy for maximizing exposure to insolation. We found intraspecific variation in lizard thermal traits, most notably in cold tolerance of L. guthega and in both heat and cold tolerance of L. whitii, suggesting population-specific variables acting on thermal physiology rather than a species distribution maintained by distinct thermal tolerances. This study represents one of the few examinations of thermal trait variability within and between species with elevation in a temperate system and provides evidence for thermal physiology driven by adaptation and/or physiological plasticity to local conditions.

Seabirds are considered ecosystem engineers, because they facilitate ecosystem functioning (e.g., nutrient cycling), crucial for other marine and terrestrial species, including reptiles. However, studies of seabird-reptile interactions are limited. Here, we assessed the influence of the ‘Critically Endangered’ Whenua Hou Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides whenuahouensis) on the occurrence of two threatened skinks, Stewart Island green skink (Oligosoma aff. chloronoton) and southern grass skink (O. aff. polychroma). We surveyed skinks for 26 consecutive days at 51 sites with and 48 sites without Diving Petrel burrows in the dunes on Codfish Island (Whenua Hou), New Zealand. We used occupancy modelling to assess the influence of burrows on the occurrence of skinks, while accounting for other factors affecting occupancy (Ψ) and detection probabilities (p). Diving Petrel burrows had a contrasting effect on the occurrence of skinks. On average, Ψ of Stewart Island green skinks was 114% higher at sites with burrows compared to sites without, while Ψ of southern grass skinks was only 2% higher. Occurrence of both skinks was negatively influenced by the presence of the other skink species. On average p were low: 0.013 and 0.038 for Stewart Island green and southern grass skinks, respectively. Stewart Island green skinks appear attracted to burrows, which might facilitate thermoregulation (i.e., shelter from temperature extremes). The larger Stewart Island green skinks may subsequently exclude the smaller southern grass skinks at burrows, causing the contrasting relationships. We suggest that these interspecific interactions should be considered when implementing conservation management, e.g., through the order of species reintroductions.

In an effort to better understand the dynamics of the parapatric boundary in South Australia of the ticks Amblyomma limbatum and Bothriocroton hydrosauri the late Professor C. Michael Bull initiated studies into the ecology of sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa), a common host of these parasites. These studies spanned a period of about 40 years and examined aspects such as monogamy, long‐term mate fidelity, social networks, personality, resource use and the transmission of parasites and other pathogens. This review incorporates the results of these studies with other information about this species to provide a comprehensive overview of its natural history, highlighting not only what is known, but also indicates areas that require further study.

Burrow‐digging organisms act as ecosystem engineers, providing potential habitat to other organisms. In the Mid North region of South Australia, wolf and trapdoor spiders in fragmented grassland communities provide this service. Pygmy bluetongue lizards are an endangered skink, endemic to these grasslands. The lizards obligatorily use burrows dug by these spider groups as refuges, basking sites and ambush points. We investigated the occupancy of these spider burrows by lizards and other organisms within the grassland community, identifying the occasions that burrows were shared by multiple taxa. We found that the lizards and trapdoor spiders are predominantly solitary, while wolf spiders co‐shared burrows more frequently with either weevils or snails. There were numerous taxa that were found to regularly co‐share with other taxa, particularly snails, centipedes and weevils. There was a strong temporal influence on burrow sharing, with most co‐sharing occurring late in summer. This study provides an insight into the use of burrows by the lizards and co‐existing taxa within these grassland communities. The dynamics of burrow‐use by other taxa have the potential to influence long‐term conservation of these lizards as burrow availability is crucial to their survival in these grasslands.

A key goal in the study of animal personalities is to determine their adaptive potential and importance for behavioral evolution. Behavioral syndromes are evolutionarily intriguing because they suggest that an adaptive change in one behavior requires a concomitant shift in another. Within species, behavioral syndromes might be evolutionarily constrained by intrinsic mechanisms that restrict behaviors from evolving independently. Alternatively, behavioral correlations might easily be decoupled over short evolutionary time scales due to variation in selective pressures between environments. In this regard, comparative studies that explore differences in diverse aspects of personality between geographically distinct populations can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary processes acting on different behavioral tendencies. Accordingly, we investigated how behavioral types and behavioral syndromes differed across four geographically distinct populations of the delicate skink, Lampropholis delicata. We found strong evidence of mean trait-level variation in activity, exploration, and boldness across populations, suggesting adaptation to local environmental conditions. Similarly, we found that within-population correlations involving boldness varied substantially between populations. However, we did find a consistent within- and among-population correlation between activity and exploration, suggesting that this behavioral syndrome is relatively stable and could explain behavioral divergence in activity and exploration between populations. We suggest that there may be thermal physiological mechanisms that could be limiting the adaptive potential of an activity-exploration correlation in the delicate skink. Broadly, we argue that some behavioral correlations may be more adaptive than others, and that this should be more regularly considered within the animal personality framework. Animals have personalities which have important consequences for individual survival and population dynamics. We compared personality traits between 4 populations of a lizard to understand how different personalities might evolve. Populations expressed markedly diverse personalities, but we did find in all populations that lizards which were most active were also the most explorative. Our results suggest that some personalities are mostly shaped by environmental factors, whereas others are mediated by internal constraints like physiology.

For the time being, a growing number of exotic reptiles are kept as pets. Pet reptiles are often infected with parasites, some of which are potentially dangerous to humans. A total of 115 samples from reptile species (Wedge-Snouted skink, African Chameleon, Egg eating snake and Egyptian tortoise) were collected for examination. The results indicated that (48.7%) out of 115 infected with internal parasites .A wide range of internal parasites were detected including nematodes, cestodes and protozoa. Wedge-snouted skink showed the highest infection rate where it reached 82.3%, followed by African Chameleon (51.5%), Egg eating snake (23%) and Egyptian tortoise (22.7%). Various parasites were detected including Strongylid eggs, Spirurid eggs, Heterakid eggs, Oxyurid eggs, eggs of mites, Nyctotherus cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts, Thelandros spp., Parapharyngodon spp., Raillietascarisvarani, Physaloptera tupinambae, Meteterakis saotomensis and Oochoristica spp.These results revealed that a routine parasitological examination should be done in such animals.

The tricarinate skink Scincus multifasciatus was described by Kuhl in 1820, without the subsequent designation of a type specimen or specific type locality. In 1930, Mertens assigned the t...

Integrative taxonomy has been generally considered as a goal in systematics for more than a decade. Here, we employed environmental, molecular, and morphological data to evaluate the species boundaries within the short-nosed skink Plestiodon brevirostris from south-central Mexico, one member of the morphologically conservative P. brevirostris group. Our molecular dataset includes one mitochondrial and two nuclear loci. The mitochondrial fragment includes the full length of the gene coding for the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 protein, a segment of the gene coding for 16S ribosomal RNA, and flanking tRNAs. The nuclear dataset includes fragments of the genes coding for the megakaryoblastic leukemia 1 and RNA fingerprint 35 proteins. We employed phylogenetic reconstruction, analyses of population structure and morphological variation, and species delimitation methods (including the integration of the three kinds of data in a unified probabilistic framework) to evaluate species limits. Our results suggest that P. brevirostris represents four distinct species. The information provided by each kind of data allowed us to discern between alternative explanations for the observed patterns of geographic structure. Two of the newly recognized lineages are poorly differentiated morphologically but apparently differ in environmental preferences and are allopatric. Additionally, one lineage is microendemic and parapatric with respect to another one. Moreover, our phylogenetic analyses suggest that other taxa within the P. brevirostris group may represent species complexes. We discuss our results in the context of integrative species delimitation.

We examined 35 golden grass skinks Heremites auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Scincidae), obtained from various locations in Turkey, for helminth parasites. We found 1 species of Cestoda, Mesocestoides sp., and 7 species of Nematoda: Parapharyngodon dogieli, Parapharyngodon lilfordi, Parapharyngodon psammodromi, Pharyngodon mamillatus, Spauligodon eremiasi, Spauligodon sp., and Thubunaea baylisi.

Our knowledge of the conservation status of reptiles, the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates, has improved dramatically over the past decade, but still lags behind that of the other tetrapod groups. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive evaluation (~92% of the world’s ~1,714 described species) of the conservation status of skinks (Scincidae), a speciose reptile family with a worldwide distribution. Using International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, we report that ~20% of species are threatened with extinction, and nine species are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild. The highest levels of threat are evident in Madagascar and the Neotropics, and in the subfamilies Mabuyinae, Eugongylinae and Scincinae. The vast majority of threatened skink species were listed based primarily on their small geographic ranges (Criterion B, 83%; Criterion D2, 13%). Although the population trend of 42% of species was stable, 14% have declining populations. The key threats to skinks are habitat loss due to agriculture, invasive species, and biological resource use (e.g., hunting, timber harvesting). The distributions of 61% of species do not overlap with protected areas. Despite our improved knowledge of the conservation status of the world’s skinks, 8% of species remain to be assessed, and 14% are listed as Data Deficient. The conservation status of almost a quarter of the world’s skink species thus remains unknown. We use our updated knowledge of the conservation status of the group to develop and outline the priorities for the conservation assessment and management of the world’s skink species.

Osteoderms (OD) are mineralised dermal structures consisting mainly of calcium phosphate and collagen. The sheer diversity of OD morphologies and their distribution within the skin of lizards makes these reptiles an ideal group in which to study ODs. Nonetheless, our understanding of the structure, development, and function of lizard ODs remains limited. The specific aims of this study were: (1) to carry out a detailed morphological characterisation of ODs in three lizard species; (2) to design and manufacture biomimetic sheets of ODs corresponding to the OD arrangement in each species; and (3) to evaluate the impact resistance of the manufactured biomimetic sheets under a drop weight test. Skin samples of the anguimorphs H. suspectum and O. ventralis, and the skink C. zebrata were obtained from frozen lab specimens. Following a series of imaging and image characterisations, 3D biomimetic models of the ODs were developed. 3D models were then printed using additive manufacturing techniques and subjected to drop weight impact tests. The results suggest that a 3D printed compound of overlapping ODs as observed in Corucia can potentially offers a higher energy absorption by comparison with the overlapping ODs of Ophisaurus and the non-overlapping ODs of Heloderma. Compound overlapping ODs need to be further tested and explored as a biomimetic concept to increase the shock absorption capabilities of devices and structures.

We describe a new species of the genus Subdoluseps Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer & Siler from a coastal area in southern Vietnam. Subdoluseps vietnamensis sp. nov. is characterized by the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (snout-vent length up to 48.7 mm); tail length/snout-vent length ratio 1.04; toes not reaching finger when limbs adpressed; 27–30 midbody scale rows, smooth; 55–57 paravertebral scales; 55–62 ventral scale rows; 64–74 subcaudal scales; frontoparietal scale single; four supraoculars; prefrontals not in contact with one another; two loreal scales; seven supralabials; ear-opening with two lobules on the anterior border; smooth lamellae beneath finger III 9 or 10 and toe IV 12–15; six enlarged precloacal scales; and four distinct black stripes on dorsum. The new species differs genetically from its closest congeners, S. bowringii (Günther) and S. frontoparietale (Taylor), by uncorrected p-distances of 10.0% and 9.5%, respectively in ND1 sequences, and clusters into the same matriline with these two congeners on the phylogenetic trees.

It is important to understand the dynamics of population size to accurately assess threats and implement conservation activities when required. However, inaccurate estimates are harming both the threat estimation process, and the resulting conservation actions. Here, we address the extinction threats to Scincella huanrenensis, a species described in the People’s Republic of China, but also occurring on the Korean peninsula. Estimating the threats to the species is not an easy task due to its unknown population status in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Here we analysed the literature to acquire the known presence point for the species, along with datapoints originating from opportunistic field surveys, and employed habitat suitability models to estimate the range of the species. We then followed the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to assess the extinction risk of the species. We found the species not to be fitting the threatened category at the global scale based on the range size, the only category for which enough data was available. We recommend the status of the species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to be updated as it is now listed as critically endangered (CR), a listing fitting a national assessment for the People’s Republic (PR) of China. While this species is possibly less threatened than currently listed, this is not a genuine improvement, and specific conservation aspects should not be neglected due to its specialisation to medium to high elevation habitat.

Recent studies on the systematics and phylogeny of the blue-tailed skinks in the Plestiodon brevirostris group identified a population from the Sierra Madre del Sur of eastern Guerrero, Mexico, that appeared to represent an undescribed species. Here, we formally describe this lineage as a new species, compare it with the other species in the P. brevirostris group, identify a specimen from western Oaxaca that belongs to the new species, and provide an updated key to the group. The new species is morphologically similar and closely related to P. ochoterenae, but molecular and morphological data support its evolutionary independence. The new species is distinguished from the other species in the P. brevirostris group, except for P. ochoterenae, by the presence of a primary temporal, a well-defined lateral pale line on the neck, and a well-defined dorsolateral pale line that extends posteriorly to the level of the hind limbs. It differs from P. ochoterenae by having longer limbs and a well-defined lateral pale line on the neck. The present study further highlights the relevance of the Sierra Madre del Sur as a hotspot of endemism and undescribed diversity.

Scincella vandenburghi is a small lygosomine skink, distributed in Tsushima Island and the Korean Peninsula as well as their adjacent islands. We analyzed the within-species genetic variation among the populations of Tsushima Island, Cheju Island, and the Korean Peninsula using partial sequences of mitochondrial DNA, cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes. We detected 20 haplotypes in total. Little genetic divergence was observed among the populations of S. vandenburghi from the Korean Peninsula, Tsushima Island, and Cheju Island. Genetic diversity was low in this species and demographic statistics suggested the recent expansion of distribution. Considering that Tsushima Island has been separated from the Korean Peninsula since 0.43 million years ago and that a narrow seaway had persisted between these two areas even during the Last Glacial Maximum, the low genetic divergence in S. vandenburghi suggests that this species expanded its range from the Korean Peninsula to Tsushima Island by oversea dispersal.

Foundation species interact strongly with other species to profoundly influence communities, such as by providing food, refuge from predators or beneficial microclimates. We tested relative support for these mechanisms using spinifex grass (Triodiaspp.), which is a foundation species of arid Australia that provides habitat for diverse lizard communities. We first compared the attributes of live and dead spinifex, bare ground and a structurally similar plant (Lomandra effusa), and then tested the relative strength of association of two spinifex specialist lizard species (Ctenophorus spinodomusandCtenotus atlas) with spinifex using a mesocosm experiment. Temperatures were coolest within spinifex compared to bare ground andLomandra.Invertebrate abundance and the threat of predation were indistinguishable between treatments, suggesting temperature attenuation may be a more important driver. Overall, the dragonC. spinodomuspreferred live over dead spinifex, while the skinkC. atlaspreferred dead spinifex, particularly at warmer air temperatures. However, both species displayed individual variability in their use of available microhabitats, with some individuals rarely using spinifex. Our results provide an example of temperature attenuation by a foundation species driving niche use by ectothermic animals.