Lizards > Skinks > Gronovi's Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Skinks (Scincidae; skinke, gladde akkedisse)

Gronovi's Dwarf Burrowing Skink / Gronovi se Dwerg- grawende Skink

Scelotes gronovii

Size Adult snout-vent length varies from 50-60 mm. No sexual size dimorphism occurs.

Description Front limbs are completely lacking and the short hind limbs have only one toe each. Typical of burrowing forms, the snout is flattened and spadelike. The lower eyelid has a transparent window and the ear openings are very small. The tail is slightly shorter than the body. This wormlike lizard is silvery-grey above with the four middle scale rows spotted in brown and giving the appearance of thin longitudinal stripes. The scales on the sides of the body are also faintly spotted and may appear striped. The belly is a greyish to yellowish white and often heavily speckled.

Biology Little is known about the biology of this species. It is often found under small calcrete rocks in coastal sand or under any kind of debris lying on sand, from just above the highwater mark to a few kilometers inland. When its shelter cover is lifted, it will quickly wriggle into the sand and disappear from sight. It is livebearing and one to two young are born in March to April.

Distribution This dwarf burrowing skink occurs along the west coast of South Africa, from Doringbaai in the North to Bloubergstrand in the South. It also occurs on Dassen Island and on Robben Island.

Distribution in the GCBC It is restricted to the west coast.

Conservation status Listed as Restricted in the latest South African Red Data Book for reptiles and amphibians, and as Lower risk/Near threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Threats Coastal development and mining activities.

Current studies None.