Fire skink
| Fire skink | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Subfamily: | Scincinae |
| Genus: | Lepidothyris |
| Species: | L. fernandi |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepidothyris fernandi (Burton, 1836) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Lygosoma fernandi | |
The fire skink (Lepidothyris fernandi), also known as the true fire skink or Togo fire skink, is a fairly large skink, a type of lizard. They are a beautiful species known for their bright and vivid coloration. Native to tropical forests in Western Africa, they live fifteen to twenty years. This species is a diurnal lizard that love to burrow and hide. They are relatively shy and reclusive, but may grow to become tame in captivity.
Taxonomy
Historically, the fire skink has been placed in several different genera and was until recently placed in Riopa together with several skinks from southeast Asia. While these are superficially similar to the African fire skink, they are closer to some other Asian skinks, resulting in their move to Lygosoma. The fire skink is not closely related to other skinks and belongs to the genus Lepidothyris.[1] However, a review of the taxonomy of the fire skink did reveal that it, as traditionally defined, actually consists of three separate species. This essentially limits true L. fernandi to tropical Western Africa, while population in Central and East Africa are L. hinkeli and L. striatus.[1]
Biology
The fire skink is a fairly large species of skink, reaching up to 37 cm (15 in) in total length.[2] The most unusual aspect of the fire skink is its beautiful colors. Smooth, gold scales adorn the Fire Skinks back while red and black bars line its sides with a silver background. The males are, in general, larger and more colorful than females. They reach ten to fourteen inches on average and have sharp claws.
Fire skinks, unlike many other skinks, are an oviparous species. A female will generally lay a clutch of five to nine eggs after mating. Fire skink eggs take forty to fifty days to hatch when incubated at a temperature of 85 °F (29 °C).
This species has a large appetite and it is mainly carnivorous. Insects such as crickets are main part of the diet. Larvae such as mealworms are used for feeding captive specimens.[3]
In captivity
This species is kept as a pet. Many specimens available for sale are poached from the wild, but captive-bred skinks are available. The animal requires a large tank with vertical space for its tendency to climb. It also requires a loose substrate for burrowing. The environs should be moist and humid. One end of the tank should be warmed with a lamp for basking. Live insects are a proper diet, and some keepers provide an occasional pinkie mouse.[3]
References
- 1 2 Wagner, Bôhme, Pauwels & Schmitz (2009). A review of the African red–flanked skinks of the Lygosoma fernandi (BURTON, 1836) species group (Squamata: Scincidae) and the role of climate change in their speciation. Zootaxa 2050: 1-30.
- ↑ Reptile Database (5 February 2013). Lepidothyris fernandi.
- 1 2 The African fire skink. Reptiles Magazine.
External links
- Photos and info. Biolib.cz