The Bermuda skink, longnose skink, or Bermuda rock lizard (Plestiodon longirostris)[2][3] is a critically endangered species and the only endemic land-living vertebrate of Bermuda.[4] It is a relatively small skink (a kind of lizard): adults reach an average snout-to-vent length of about 8 cm (3.1 in).
Adult Bermuda skinks (also known as "rock lizards") have dark brown or black backs and are pinkish or light gray on the underside. Juveniles are lighter in color and have black stripes running along the sides of their bodies, which fade with age. Females are thought to retain the stripes longer than males. Adult males have larger heads. Hatchlings have bright blue tails. All have salmon orange cheeks and throat.
While being more active during summer, the Bermuda skink does not hibernate, because the frost free winters allow it to be active year-round.
Distributionedit
The species occurs only in Bermuda, and exists mainly on some of the smaller islands and nature reserves on the mainland, where the populations are fragmented into isolated pockets.
^Cox, N.A.; Wingate, D.B. (2021). "Plestiodon longirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T8218A121499536. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T8218A121499536.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Brandley M.C., Schmitz A., Reeder T.W. (2005). "Partitioned Bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of scincid lizards." Systematic Biology54 (3): 373–390. doi:10.1080/10635150590946808
^Smith, H.M. (2005). "Plestiodon: a replacement name for most members of the genus Eumeces in North America." Journal of Kansas Herpetology14: 15–16.
^Cox, N.A.; Wingate, D.B. (2021). "Plestiodon longirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T8218A121499536. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T8218A121499536.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021. Database entry includes justification for why this species is critically endangered
^the Chester Zoo was successful in breeding them for the first time in captivity on 9/09/2017 UK zoo creates a skink to save rare lizards (retrieved 11 August 2013)
External linksedit
December 15, 2023
bermuda, skink, longnose, skink, bermuda, rock, lizard, plestiodon, longirostris, critically, endangered, species, only, endemic, land, living, vertebrate, bermuda, relatively, small, skink, kind, lizard, adults, reach, average, snout, vent, length, about, con. The Bermuda skink longnose skink or Bermuda rock lizard Plestiodon longirostris 2 3 is a critically endangered species and the only endemic land living vertebrate of Bermuda 4 It is a relatively small skink a kind of lizard adults reach an average snout to vent length of about 8 cm 3 1 in Bermuda skinkConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily ScincidaeGenus PlestiodonSpecies P longirostrisBinomial namePlestiodon longirostrisCope 1861SynonymsEumeces longirostris Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Conservation 4 References 5 External linksDescription editAdult Bermuda skinks also known as rock lizards have dark brown or black backs and are pinkish or light gray on the underside Juveniles are lighter in color and have black stripes running along the sides of their bodies which fade with age Females are thought to retain the stripes longer than males Adult males have larger heads Hatchlings have bright blue tails All have salmon orange cheeks and throat The Bermuda skink lives predominantly in rocky coastal areas They feed on small invertebrates such as cockroaches or woodlice but also on small terrestrial crustaceans While being more active during summer the Bermuda skink does not hibernate because the frost free winters allow it to be active year round Distribution editThe species occurs only in Bermuda and exists mainly on some of the smaller islands and nature reserves on the mainland where the populations are fragmented into isolated pockets Conservation editThe Bermuda skink has been listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered It is threatened primarily by habitat destruction predators introduced by humans such as cats rats American crows chickens great kiskadees yellow crowned night herons cane toads and anoles as well as by human litter the Bermuda skink has tiny claws on its feet but no friction pads and when it gets trapped in cast away empty glass bottles or soda cans it cannot climb out and thus starves or dies of heat stress or dehydration The Bermuda skink is listed as protected under the 2003 Bermuda Protected Species Act Chester Zoo is attempting to increase numbers of the skink with its own captive breeding program 5 References edit Cox N A Wingate D B 2021 Plestiodon longirostris IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T8218A121499536 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 2 RLTS T8218A121499536 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Brandley M C Schmitz A Reeder T W 2005 Partitioned Bayesian analyses partition choice and the phylogenetic relationships of scincid lizards Systematic Biology 54 3 373 390 doi 10 1080 10635150590946808 Smith H M 2005 Plestiodon a replacement name for most members of the genus Eumeces in North America Journal of Kansas Herpetology 14 15 16 Cox N A Wingate D B 2021 Plestiodon longirostris IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T8218A121499536 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 2 RLTS T8218A121499536 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Database entry includes justification for why this species is critically endangered the Chester Zoo was successful in breeding them for the first time in captivity on 9 09 2017 UK zoo creates a skink to save rare lizards retrieved 11 August 2013 External links editBermuda Aquarium Museum amp Zoo Bermuda Skink Project Bermuda Department of Conservation Services page on Bermuda Skink Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bermuda skink amp oldid 1132156608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
