Ablepharus rueppellii

Taxobox | name = Rueppell's Snake-Eyed Skink
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = stable


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
familia = Scincidae
genus = "Ablepharus"
species = "A. rueppellii"
binomial = "Ablepharus rueppellii"
binomial_authority = Gray, 1839

Ablepharus rueppellii, or Rueppell's Snake-Eyed Skink is a species of skink found in the Middle East. It was formerly considered a subspecies of "Ablepharus kitaibelii", but has since been distinguished. It is possible that what is currently recognized as this species is actually two distinct species.

Range

It is found throughout north and central Israel, western Jordan, and the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. There has also been one unconfirmed sighting in southern Lebanon. It is also possible that it lives in Syria, though this is also unconfirmed. In the areas where it can be found, it is generally uncommon. It is found in the leaf litter of forested or shrubby areas, and in Egypt it is usually found near oases. It is highly localized in densely vegetated areas.

Possible Threats

There are few threats to the species as a whole, though deforestation and loss of traditionally farmed orchards may affect specific populations. The species is protected by legislation in Israel.

References

*Gray, J.E. 1839. Catalogue of the slender-tongued saurians, with descriptions of many new genera and species. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (1)2: 331–337 (287–293)
*Lymberakis, P. and Kalionzopoulou, A. 2003. Additions to the herpetofauna of Syria. Zoology in the Middle East 29: 33–39.
*Schmidtler, J.F. 1997. Die Ablepharus kitaibelii - Gruppe in Süd-Anatolien und benachbarten Gebieten (Squamata: Sauria: Scinidae). Herpetozoa 10(1/2):35-63
*IUCN2006|assessors=Werner "et al"|year=2005|id= |title=Ablepharus rueppellii|downloaded=09 April 2007 Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern