Lizards > Skinks > Scelotes kasneri

Skinks (Scincidae; skinke, gladde akkedisse)

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

Scelotes kasneri

Size A large dwarf burrowing skink with adult snout-vent length varying from 80-120 mm. No sexual size dimorphism has been reported.

Description Front limbs are lacking and the small hind limbs each have two clawed toes.The eyes are well-developed, with opaque, non-scaly lower eyelids. There are three supraoculars and four supraciliaries. The ear openings are very small. Body scales are arranged in 22 longitudinal series at midbody. The back has a straw-coloured vertebral band, bordered by three rows of scales on each side that has dark brown spots. This gives the impression of three dark stripes on each side. The belly is yellowish-white and dark-spotted beneath the tail.

Biology Little is known about its biology. It occurs on sparsely vegetated coastal dunes where it shelters underneath stones and litter. When its microhabitat is disturbed, it quickly wriggles into the sand.

Distribution Western Cape coast, from Lambert's Bay to Vredenburg.

Distribution in the GCBC It is present only along the coast.

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

Threats Habitat destruction through coastal development.

Current studies None.