Chalcides (Chalcides simonyi)

Description

Chalcides fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Chalcides description

Endemic to the Canary Islands, Chalcides simonyi is a rare species of skink threatened by global climate change ⁽¹⁾. It is a member of the genus Chalcides, which comprises 19 or more species with extremely complicated taxonomy ⁽²⁾. As such, there is much debate surrounding the relationship of Chalcides simonyi to other Chalcides species. It was once considered a subspecies of the many-scaled cylindrical skink (Chalcides polylepis), but it is now regarded as a species in its own right, in part due to unique genetic and morphological characteristics ^{(1) (2)}. 

Like other species in the genus Chalcides, Chalcides simonyi has rather short limbs and a cylindrical body. It also has well-developed, moveable eyelids, an open ear aperture and large scales above the nostrils ⁽³⁾.

Synonyms

Chalcides polylepis occidentalis, Chalcides polylepis simonyi.

Spanish

LISNEJA.

Chalcides biology

A rather enigmatic species, very little is known about the specific biology and behaviour of Chalcides simonyi. However, like most skinks, it is probably an active forager that seeks out its prey of insects and other arthropods. Communication is carried out through a variety of chemical and visual cues, such as head bobbing, and aggressive displays may be used by male skinks to defend basking sites or territories ⁽⁴⁾. 

Although skinks lay eggs, Chalcides simonyi is instead thought to give birth to fully-formed young ⁽¹⁾. The embryos are most likely nourished internally by a large yolk deposit ⁽⁴⁾.

Chalcides range

Found only in the Canary Islands, Chalcides simonyi occurs on Fuerteventura, where it is predominantly found on the centre of the island with an isolated population in the south, as well as Lanzarote and Lobos ⁽¹⁾.

Chalcides habitat

Chalcides simonyi is found in fields, orchards, gardens and rocky areas with Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation ⁽¹⁾.

Chalcides status

Chalcides simonyi is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Chalcides threats

Perhaps the most threatened skink species in the Canaries ⁽⁵⁾, Chalcides simonyi has a severely fragmented distribution due to the continuing loss of its habitat. Climate change is the most significant threat to this species, as the increasing frequency of drought, leading to more arid conditions, is causing soil erosion and the degradation of its habitat. Feral and domestic cats also pose an additional threat to Chalcides simonyi, while the largest population of this species was most likely destroyed by a volcanic eruption in the 18th century ⁽¹⁾.

Chalcides conservation

Although Chalcides simonyi has not been the target of any known conservation measures, it is present in a number of protected areas ⁽¹⁾, including Parque Natural Archipélago Chinijo ⁽⁵⁾. 

Protected areas have long been considered one of the most effective tools to conserve biodiversity, but their effectiveness in securing species under rapid climate change is uncertain ⁽⁶⁾. Therefore, researching the effects of climate change on this species and monitoring its population status may be considered a conservation priority for Chalcides simonyi.

Find out more

Find out more about reptile conservation:

• International Reptile Conservation Foundation:
  http://www.ircf.org/

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Glossary

Arthropods

A very diverse phylum (a major grouping of animals) that includes crustaceans, insects and arachnids. All arthropods have paired jointed limbs and a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton).

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Feral

Previously domesticated animals that have returned to a wild state.

Genus

A category used in taxonomy, which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’. A genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common. The genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ Latin species name; the second part is the specific name.

Morphological

Referring to the visible or measurable characteristics of an organism.

Subspecies

A population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

Taxonomic

Relating to taxonomy, the science of classifying organisms, grouping together animals which share common features and are thought to have a common ancestor.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying organisms, grouping together animals which share common features and are thought to have a common ancestor.

Territory

An area occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony.

References

1. IUCN Red List (April, 2011)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Brown, R.P. and Pestano, J. (1998) Phylogeography of skinks (Chalcides) in the Canary Islands inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Ecology, 7: 1183-1191.
3. Ananjeva, N.B., Orlov, N.L., Khalikov, R.G., Darevsky, I.S. and Barabanov, A. (2006) The Reptiles of Northern Eurasia: Taxonomic Diversity, Distribution, Conservation Status. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Bulgaria.
4. Halliday, T. and Adler, K. (2002) The New Encyclopedia of Reptile and Amphibians. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
5. Nogales, M., de Leon, L. and Gomez, R. (1998) On the presence of the endemic skink Chalcides simonyi Steind., 1891 in Lanzarote (Canary Islands). Amphibia-Reptilia, 19: 427-430.
6. Carvalho, S.B., Brito, J.C., Crespo, E.J. and Possingham, H.P. (2010) From climate change predictions to actions – conserving vulnerable animal groups in hotspots at a regional scale. Global Change Biology, 16(12): 3257-3270.