| Actual Image
chunky but beautiful :p #3 (60)
boreocypriensis
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3023 W: 130 N: 3359]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (8826) | Trachylepis aurata (Golden Skink) [in Turk. Tıknaz Kertenkele]#3
Dear Friends, thanks for the kind critiques/comments on the previous posting. In last two days, I have uploaded two whole captures of this chunky and beautiful Golden Skink from two different area (Diyarbakır & Kilis Provinces, SE Anatolia, Turkiye), photographing from two different view points (lateral and dorso-lateral views) to show the characteristic pattern of the nominate subspecies which is distributed in Turkey and some adjacent Greek islands . Here's another shot of this skink, but this time a bit closer in, to show its scalation details.
Hoping that you like this shot as well!
Cheers,
Bayram
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A relatively big-sized, stout diurnal skink with a total length up to 20 cm. The palatine bones occurring at the ceiling of mouth are in contact mesially; palatal notch entirely separating pterygoid bones, extending forward to between centers of eyes; pterygoid teeth minute or absent. Eyelids are movable, lower with undivided more or less transparent disc. Ear openning is distinct and usually it bears 2-3 triangular small scales at the anterior edge. Nostril is pierced in a single nasal plate. There are 32-38 rows of weakly keeled scales around the mid-body. Typically, the nuchal (nape of the neck) scales are smooth (not keeled!). There are 16-22 lamellar scales under the fourth toe. The main colour of the dorsal side is gray or brownish. The dorsal pattern shows some subspecific variations (see below). The belly is usually dirty white or sometimes cream.
Generally, three subspecies of T. aurata were recognized on the basis of colour pattern and number of gular and ventral scales:
(1) T. a. aurata (=M. a. fellowsii) - having two longitudinal rows of large more or less rectangular dark spots on the dorsum (reported usually from Turkey and some adjacent Greek islands);
(2) T. a. septemtaeniata with the dorsal pattern consisting of four more or less complete longitudinal rows of small dark spots (commonly assigned to populations from Eritrea, Syria, Iraq, southern Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman);
(3) T. a. transcaucasica (=M. a. affinis) characterised by the septemtaeniata pattern and higher number of gular and ventral scales (associated often with the individuals from Armenia, Azerbaijan [Nakhičevan], central and northern Iran and Turkmenistan).
Golden skink inhabits rocky places in open areas with sparse vegetation. Also found under debris of fallen mud-brick and in ruins. It feeds on insects. A female gives birth to 3-8 young (Ovoviviparous). Its vertical distribution reaches to 1200 m. In Turkey, it is distributed in W and S Anatolia and the southern parts of Central Anatolia.
In the hot part of the season, Golden skink is active mainly early in the morning. It is difficult to approach, if disturbed, it hides very quickly in dense bushes, under stones, in deep crevices of soil or in small borrows. Autotomy of the tail is well developed. Therefore it is hard to see an individual with an unregenerated tail in the field.
References:
1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
2. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008].
3. Moravec, J. Franzen, M.. & Böhme, W. (2006). Notes on the taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution of the Trachylepis (formerly Mabuya) aurata (Linnaeus, 1758) complex. In: M. Vences, J. Köhler, T. Ziegler, W. Böhme (eds): Herpetologia Bonnensis II. Proceedings of the 13th Congress of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica. pp. 89-93.
4. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp. |
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