Added 8 September 2002. Last updated 24 February 2014: added further details and updated Bibliography.

The Scincidae

Macroscincus



The monotypic genus Macroscincus is a member of the subfamily Tiliquinae, a group that includes the Tiliqua and Egernia species from Australia. Tragically, this large lizard from the Cape Verde islands may now be already extinct, not least due to pressure from the local fishermen for its meat.

Boulenger gives the following characteristics for the genus: palatine bones in contact mesially; pterygoids widely separated, toothless; lateral teeth with compressed denticulated crowns, similar to those of genus Iguana; eyelids well developed, lower with an undivided transparent disk; ear-opening distinct, tympanum deeply sunk; nostril pierced in a single nasal; supranasals present; complete series of shields between orbit and supralabials; prefrontals present; frontoparietals and interparietal distinct; limbs well developed, pentadactyle; digits compressed, with undivided lamellae inferiorly.

M. coctei, Cape Verde Skink

 

 



Scientific Name

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

Macroscincus

M. coctei

Cape Verde Skink

Cape Verde Islands

20"

The Cape Verde Skink is a thick-set skink with powerful limbs and strong claws. The tail is about half the length of the body. Older individuals develop thick hanging dewlaps. The lower eyelid has a transparent window. In the wild it feeds on mallow seeds and possibly also bird eggs, but captive individuals would learn to soft fruit and green leafy vegetables, becoming tame with the course of time. One keeper also reported finding his captive in the process of eating a bird. It has been observed climbing. No specimen has been found for many years, highlighting the fact that species restricted to a few islands are peculiarly vulnerable to environmental pressure - in this case, human. Scalation details: nostril pierced in posterior part of nasal, which is followed by a postnasal; supranasals in contact behind rostral; prefrontals large, forming a median suture; frontal a little shorter than frontoparietals and interparietal together, in contact with the three anterior supraoculars; 4 supraoculars, 2nd largest; 6 supraciliaries; interparietal much narrower than frontoparietals, entirely separating parietals; pair of large nuchals; 5th supralabial below centre of eye; ear opening a little larger than eye opening, with 3 projecting lobules anteriorly; scales very small, dorsals and laterals bicarinate, ventrals a little larger and smooth; preanal scales slightly enlarged. Dorsal scales: 106-113 rows at midbody. Osteodermal armour is less completely developed than in other skinks. Tail: cylindrical, about 50% of TL; upper caudals slightly tricarinate. Other: snout moderate, obtuse; crowns of teeth are compressed and serrated like those of the Australian Tiliqua and Egernia species. Coloration: dorsally grey with irregular white and dark brown spots: ventrally white to light grey. Reproduction: no details yet available. [SOURCES: Boulenger, Grzimek]

Bibliography

Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 6: Reptiles, Grzimek,1975.



Links

Dr Franco Andreone visited Cape Verde roughly a hundred years after the last wild Macroscincus were seen. His site contains interesting information on Macroscincus, other reptiles of the islands and the impact of human settlement on the Cape Verde islands in general.


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