Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Scincidae Scientific name Ablepharus kitaibelii Higher classification Ablepharus Order Scaled reptiles | |
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Ablepharus kitaibelii stepaneki
Ablepharus kitaibelii, commonly known as the European copper skink, juniper skink or European snake-eyed skink, is a species of lizard from the skink family (Scincidae).
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This small, slender lizard grows up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, and lives in Eastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is native to Greece (including the Aegean Islands), Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, Hungary, Albania, Slovakia, the Caucasus, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and possibly Iraq. The subspecies A. k. fitzingeri is known from Slovakia, Hungary, Greece and the island of Corfu. The subspecies A. k. stepaneki is known from Bulgaria and Romania.
It is a shy species, which lives under stones and leaves in dry places, such as south slopes, fields, and meadows. The skin is bronze coloured, with dark sides. The eyelids are immovable, in contrast to many other skinks.
A. kitaibelii is active during twilight, and hunts for insects and small snails. It is a typical ground dweller, and dislikes climbing. The species is protected. Many former subspecies have been promoted to categorization as species, such as Ablepharus rueppellii and Ablepharus budaki.
Ablepharus kitaibelii stepaneki ii
Etymology
The specific name, kitaibelii, is in honor of Hungarian botanist Paul Kitaibel.
