Snakes N Adders
Introducing Series : Episode 30
Berber Skinks (Eumeces schneideri)
NOW TO TRY AND DO JUSTICE TO ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED BEGINNER LIZARDS OUT THERE. HERE IS MY LOVE AFFAIR LAID BARE WITH BERBERS!!
Video notes.
BERBER SKINK OR SCHNEIDER’S SKINK
(EUMECES SCHNEIDERI ) BUT ALSO LISTED AS
NOVOEUMECES SCHNEIDERI
first described by Daudin in 1802 as SCINCUS SCHNEIDERI
in honor of German Zoologist Johann Gottleb Theaenus Schneider
was subsequently reclassified:
by Isodore St Hilaire in 1827 to EUMECES PAVIMENTATUS
by AMC Dumeril & Bibron in 1839 to PLESTIODON ALDROVANDI
back to EUMECES SCHNEIDERI by Boulenger in 1890
then to NOVOEUMECES SCHNEIDERI by Griffith in 2000
5 Subspecies are recognised but are essentially invisible to the hobby.
E.S. barani - (2007) - Turkey (Anatolia)
E.S. pavimentatus - (1827) - Jordan, Lebanon, Syria
E.S. princeps - (1839) - Armenia, Azebaijan Caucasus
E.S. zarudnyi - (1900) - Iran, Helmand Province Afghanistan, Mekran Coastal region of Pakistan
Eumeces has been under major taxonomic review. Many species once thought to be Eumeces have subsequently been reclassififed:
Plestiodon - Mexico, USA, Canada and Japan
Eurylepis - (Thal Skinks) - India
Mesoscincus - Mexico
Only animals remain in Eumeces are Skinks or African origin in the Schneideri ‘group’
algeriensis - Morocco & Algeria (super cool!) - very rarely seen
blythianus - Afrghanistan & Punjab
cholistanensis - ?
persicus - Not given but must be Persia (Iraq and Iran)
The listed geographic range is extensive and indludes:
Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Turtkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Dagestan, Russia, Turcmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. Azerbaijan, Georgia, N Pakistan and NW India.
Adult size is given as 45cm (18inches) - larger males are impressive. Very heavy set, large heads.
There lies the rub
Sexual identifiers on older larger animals are relatively straight forward. The issue lies with younger animals WHERE DIMORPHISM IS STILL TO MANIFEST. Also fed on a soley insectivorous diet they can be chronically slow to mature.
Males generally have a larger head in all dimensions, and a supposedly brighter flank or side striping. The striping forget about, its not accurate enough. The head is however, but you will need a mature male to accurately identify. Females, particularly in breeding condition will develop jowels in the throat giving the head somewhat of a triangular aspect.
My Breeding trials
Ryan and Rachels Breeding success and subsequent frustrations.
WILD STUDIES conducted by STEPHEN GOLDBERG of Whittler California suggest sexual synchrony in Spring with examples peaking in March April and May.
They are discussed as being MONOESTROUS or only single clutch producers per year.
may go some way to explain the frustrations as so many other common lizards are POLYESTROUS in habit.
DIET:
Livefoods, eggs, snails, worms, cat food, salad (true omnivore)
ENCLOSURE / BASKING TEMPS / RANGE / HUMIDITY (NOT NEEDED) / THERMOSTATS UV EXPOSURE.
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