- Bermuda Rock Skink
Taxobox
name = Bermuda Rock Skink
status = CR
status_system = iucn2.3
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo =Squamata
familia =Scincidae
genus = "Eumeces "
species = "E. longirostris"
binomial = "Eumeces longirostris"
binomial_authority = Cope, 1861__NOTOC__The Bermuda Rock Skink or Rock Lizard ("Eumeces longirostris") is the only endemic terrestrialvertebrate animal of theBermuda s. It is a relatively largeskink (a kind oflizard ): adults reach an average snout-to-vent length of about 8 cm (a bit more than 3inch es).Description
Adult Bermuda skinks (also known locally 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 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
invertebrate s such as crickets orbeetle s, but also on small terrestrialcrustacean s.While being more active during summer, the Bermuda Rock Skink does "not" hibernate because the warm climate allows it to be active year-round.
Distribution and Conservation Status
The species occurs only in Bermuda, and exists mainly on some of the smaller islands and one nature reserve on the mainland where the populations are fragmented into isolated pockets.
The Bermuda Rock Skink has been listed on the
IUCN Red List as critically endangered. It is threatened primarily byhabitat destruction ,predator s introduced by humans (such ascat s orrat s), as well as by human litter: the Bermuda Rock Skink has tinyclaw s on its feet, but nofriction pad s, and when it gets trapped in a cast-away empty glass bottle or soda can, it cannot climb out and thus starves or dies of heat stress or dehydration.References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is critically endangered
External links
* [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=8218 IUCN Red List entry]
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