Trachylepis punctatissima

Trachylepis punctatissima, commonly called the montane speckled skink or speckled rock skink, is a lizard in the skink family (Scincidae) which is widespread in southern Africa.[2][3] The common and adaptable species occurs in a variety of habitat types at middle to high altitudes.[2] It was for a time treated as a southern race of the African striped skink, T. striata.[2][3]

Trachylepis punctatissima
T. punctatissima sunning in a garden
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Trachylepis
Species:
T. punctatissima
Binomial name
Trachylepis punctatissima
(Smith, 1849)
Synonyms
  • Euprepes punctatissimus Smith, 1849
  • Mabouia gruetzneri Boulenger, 1887
  • Mabuia striata subsp. gruetzneri Sternfeld, 1911
  • Mabuya punctatissima (Smith, 1849)
  • Mabuya striata subsp. punctatissima (Smith, 1849)
[2]

Description

This skink is dark grey brown in colour with two golden brown stripes that run lengthwise on either side of the spine. The underside is dirty white or pale grey. Both sexes grow to a length of about 19 cm.

Habits and biology

They are diurnal and like to bask in the sun. Those in colder regions will spend a period in hibernation. They are ovoviviparous.

Range and races

It is native to eastern Zambia, southern Malawi and Botswana, eastern Zimbabwe, central and northern South Africa, Lesotho and western Eswatini. The population on Mount Mulanje in southern Malawi was formerly included with Mabuya striata subsp. punctatissima, but is now treated as a full species, Trachylepis mlanjensis, while the Eastern Highlands population in Zimbabwe may similarly prove to be distinct.[2]

References
  1. Pietersen, D.; Verburgt, L.; Farooq, H.; Chapeta, Y. (2021). "Trachylepis punctatissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T174137A120630368. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T174137A120630368.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. Bates, M. F.; Broadley, D. G.; Maritz, B. "Trachylepis punctatissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  3. Trachylepis punctatissima at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 January 2016.

External references


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