Terror skink

Terror skink
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Scincidae
Genus:Phoboscincus
Species: P. bocourti
Binomial name
Phoboscincus bocourti
(Brocchi, 1876)
Synonyms[2]
  • Eumeces bocourti
    Brocchi, 1876
  • Phoboscincus bocourti
    — Greer, 1974

The terror skink (Phoboscincus bocourti ), also called Bocourt’s terrific skink or Bocourt's eyelid skink, is a species of skink endemic to the Île des Pins (Isle of Pines), a small islet off the coast of New Caledonia. First described in 1876, it was presumed to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 1993, and since then several individuals have been seen. Because of its small area of occupation and small population size, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "endangered".

Etymology

The specific name, bocourti, is in honor of French zoologist Marie Firmin Bocourt.[3]

Distribution

Phoboscincus bocourti is endemic to the Île des Pins (Isle of Pines), an islet with an area of 0.5 square kilometres (0.19 sq mi) off the coast of New Caledonia.[2] It may be present on other islands in the locality.[1]

This rare species was considered extinct until being rediscovered in 1993, and in December 2003, a specimen was found by some specialists from the French Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (the animal was photographed and filmed before being released). Before, it was only known from a single specimen, collected on the same island by a man named Balanza. Further individuals have been discovered in 2009, 2013 and 2018.[2]

Diet

The teeth of P. bocourti are long, curved and sharp, suggesting predatory habits unusual for a large skink; most skinks are omnivorous. Its diet might include larger invertebrates, other lizards, young birds, and eggs. Some clans claim that the terror skink has earned its name because of its notable ability to feast on the fingers and other worm-like body parts of both children and adults.

Description

P. bocourti is about 50 centimetres (20 in) in total length (including tail), making it the third largest reptilian predator on the island, the others being a prehistorically extinct land-going crocodile and a goanna.

Behavior

P. bocourti is presumed to be diurnal and mainly terrestrial, but may be partially arboreal.[1]

Threats

With such a small area of occupation, P. bocourti is subject to threats such as habitat loss through a typhoon or wildfire, and the possibility of predatory animals being introduced to the island. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "endangered".[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sadlier, R.A.; Whitaker, A.H. & Bauer, A.M. (2010). "Phoboscincus bocourti". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T17008A6705441. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T17008A6705441.en. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Phoboscincus bocourti at ReptileDatabase.cz
  3. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Phoboscincus bocourti, p. 28).

Further reading

  • Brocchi [P] (1876). "Sur un Scincoïdien nouveau appartenant au genre Eumèces ". Bulletin de la Société philomathique de Paris, Series 6, 12: 95-97. (Eumeces bocourti, new species). (in French).
  • Greer AE (1974). "The genetic relationships of the Scincid lizard genus Leiolopisma and its relatives". Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 22 (31): 1-67. (Phoboscincus, new genus).
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