Lizard or Skink ?

dmclean3 · #1 (**permalink**) 14-12-2008, 10:45 AM

Hi folks,
I think I have this little fellas ID but not entirely 100% sure,
It's about 7cm long, bronze in colour and has a dark mark running back from it's eye,
The bug pot that it's in has a 6.5cm diameter base,
photo taken in Cyprus in November 08'
I would appreciate any help at all with this one,
Thanks,
Duncan

goosey · #2 (**permalink**) 14-12-2008, 04:32 PM

Do you think this could be a Snake eyed skink - Ablepharus kitaibellii?

If it is I think, it's rather confusing having a skink and a lizard both called Snake eyed

dmclean3 · #3 (**permalink**) 14-12-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

Do you think this could be a Snake eyed skink - Ablepharus kitaibellii?

If it is I think, it's rather confusing having a skink and a lizard both called Snake eyed

Hi Goosey,
I had already thought of that, I matched it up with Budaks Snake Eyed Skink - Ablepharus budaki which was promoted in 1997 from it's status as a sub-species of Ablepharus kitaibelii,
both come under different names such as
European Copper Skink,
Juniper Skink
and European Snake Eyed Skink,
I'll give it a bit longer to see if any one else can help, but I think we are on the same track,
Thanks Goosey,
Duncan

H Dogg · #4 (**permalink**) 15-12-2008, 11:54 AM

Its Ablepharus budaki

Ferret · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 10:21 PM

Duncan
Had a little search around the web and came up with these TrekNature | Ablepharus budaki (Budak's Skink) Photo and http://www.sci.ege.edu.tr/~bgocmen/7.pdf so it seems it is now Ablepharus budaki.

I am just a little confused by the title of this thread, aren’t Skinks a type of Lizard?

Ferret

paul m · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 08:36 PM

Yes, it's one of those problems of names within names and what exactly are "common" names.

(a) All skinks are lizards but not all lizards are skinks;
(b) Some common names include ".... lizard" while others contain ".... skink": therefore it's quite possible to have similar common names such as the 'blue-headed lizard' and the 'blue-headed skink' which are different species.
My advice (as always) is to get the Latin/scientific name first!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferret

I am just a little confused by the title of this thread, aren’t Skinks a type of Lizard?

Ferret

dmclean3 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 02:15 PM

Thanks guys,
It's an interesting subject, I'll go with Paul and call it by it's latin name,
Duncan,
(no, I'm Duncan not the skink) LOL