RAUK - Archived Forum - Skinks in Cyprus

Does anyone know what types of skink are found in Cyprus?

I found one under a sunbed; it was around 18cm long and shaped and coloured like an Ocellated Skink, next to a sandy scrubby area, next to a rocky beach.

I looked it up in my field guide and according to it, it couldn't have been an Ocellated Skink, as they don't naturally occur there.

Ufortunatley, I didn't have my camera with me, so I couldn't photograph it.

Does anybody have any ideas on what it could've been?

Dan,

Ocellated skinks do occur in Cyprus - I saw a few in the sandy areas close to Akrotiri on a visit there in April, about 20 years ago.

There is also another skink of similar size which is more common, at least it basks more. I think the scientific name is Mabuya aurata. it has no English name as far as I know, is plainer on the back, and the basic colour is brown.

Also the much smaller Snake-eyed Skink can be found under logs, etc.

I don't know of any field guides specifically on Cyprus, but Dave Bird might be able to help there?

Cheers,

Mike Brown

Four species of skink exist on Cyprus:

Ablepharus budaki, Chalcides ocellatus, Eumeces schneideri, Euprepis vittatus (formerly Mabuya vittata)

http://oiseauxprovence.free.fr/Page%20EPRVIT.htm

http://bornova.ege.edu.tr/~bgocmen/home12.html

Right, thanks Mike and Jeroen, I know it now to be an adult Ocellated Skink.

I was coming down to the pool from my family's rooms, and it was under a sunbed being poked by some Scottish children with sticks.

I rescued it though, and released it at the base of a scrubby bush with sand underneath it, but when I got back to it with my camera about 2 mins later it was gone