Mountain skink  (Chalcides montanus)

The mountain skink is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Named for the mountainous regions it inhabits (3), the mountain skink (Chalcides montanus) is a small, poorly-known lizard from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco (1) (3).

Very little information is available on the typical colouration and markings of the mountain skink, but like other skink species it has a fairly elongated, roughly cylindrical body covered in smooth, overlapping scales (4). Its limbs are short (4) (5), but not as reduced as in some other Chalcides species (6). In general, skinks in the genus Chalcides have a fairly pointed snout with an enlarged scale at the tip (6). The eyelids of these species are moveable, and the lower eyelid has a transparent scale which can cover the eye and enable the skink to bask with the eyes shut while retaining vision (5) (6).

The mountain skink has previously been classified together with the closely related Lanza’s skink (Chalcides lanzai), which was considered to be a subspecies of the mountain skink. The two species are similar in appearance and occupy adjacent mountain habitats in Morocco (6).

The mountain skink occurs only in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco (1) (3).

A high altitude species, the mountain skink is found in juniper forest, cedar plantations, bushland, fields, meadows and damp areas near streams, at elevations of around 2,300 to 2,830 metres (1).

Very little is known about this small skink species. It is reported to hibernate in winter and is viviparous, giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs (1).

In general, male skinks become aggressive during the breeding season, and may warn away rivals through aggressive displays. Fights are also common. During mating, the male skink typically holds the female in a ‘mating grip’ and may bite the female on the neck, limbs or body (4). Skinks usually use a range of chemical and visual cues to communicate (4).

Although the diet of the mountain skink is not known, like most other skinks it is likely to be an active predator and to feed on a range of insects and other small invertebrates (4).

Although the mountain skink occupies a fairly restricted range, its habitat is not believed to be under any significant threat and this species’ population is not known to be declining (1).

However, the mountain skink appears to be naturally rare, and in parts of its range it may face local threats from the removal of firewood, which can degrade its habitat (1).

There are not known to be any specific conservation measures currently in place for the mountain skink. This little-known species has been recorded in at least one protected area, in Toubkal National Park (1), although a major expansion of protected areas has been recommended to help protect this and other reptile species in Morocco (7).

Find out more about the mountain skink:

• The Reptile Database:
  http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/

More information on conservation in the Mediterranean region:

• Conservation International: Biodiversity Hotspots - Mediterranean Basin:
  http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/mediterranean/Pages/default.aspx
• ARKive - Mediterranean Basin:
  http://www.arkive.org/eco-regions/mediterranean-basin/