The genus Sphenops is similar in many ways to Chalcides, and some authorities have indeed questioned the separation of the two. The main difference between the two is the presence of a wedge-shaped snout (those of Chalcides being conical) and ventrolateral ridges in Sphenops. Behaviourally the two genera are also similar, with Sphenops often moving just below the surface of the ground in loose sand or soil.
The characteristics of the genus are as follows: wedge-shaped snout with countersunk mouth: supralabials with laterally projecting ridges: fifth toe on hind limb often absent or reduced: number of fingers on front limb varies between five and zero according to species: small eyes with palpebral disk: ear opening covered with fringe scales: ventrolateral ridges.
Information on the reproductive biology of these species is almost non-existent. KKS note however that one authority who held some captives observed them chasing one another in January, and of these, 3 females each gave birth to 2 young in July. In contrast with the ever-popular and keepable Chalcides, none of these skinks seem to be imported nowadays as pets, although one would imagine their requirements are not that dissimilar to those for Chalcides or Scincus.
All the species are very similar, both physically and behaviourally, and as they are parapetric they can usually only be distinguished by their scalation details. In some places they are the most common of reptiles.
NOTES: KKS refers to Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa, to which this page is totally indebted. See Bibliography below.
| QUICK INDEX | ||
| S. boulengeri | S. delislei | S. sepsoides |
| S. sphenopsiformis | S. ?? |
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Sphenops | ||||
| S. boulengeri | Boulenger's Skink | Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sinai, S Israel |
7" | S. boulengeri is found in loose drifting sand with vegetation on the edge of sandy desert or on sandy steppe, or around but not in oases. One was found in a termite nest. During the hot months it becomes nocturnal. It hibernates during winter months, preferring the base of Tamarix bushes where it rests in a small cavity 10-20 cm below the surface. In dune regions it prefers hard ground. For food it preys on surface insects from below, or enters termite and ant galleries. The EMBL database entry treats this as a subspecies of S. sepsoides. Scalation details: 1 azygous supranasal behind rostral. 1 postnasal of equal length and height. Frenocular of equal length and height. 2 preoculars, 4-5 supraciliaries, 3-4 postoculars. 5th supralabial contacts eye. Opercular scales separated from supralabials from 1-2 scales. Dorsal scales in 24-28 rows at midbody. 5 digits on each limb, but 5th may be reduced to a stump. Coloration: dorsal side "metallic apricot" (KKS), ventral sides cream. Position of osteoderms marked by silvery-grey pigmentation. 4 brown longitudinal lines, 2 dorsal and 1 on each side: dorsal lines run from head, lateral lines from behind the nostril. Scale margins may be dark or dark-spotted. |
| S. delislei | De Lisle's Skink | Morocco, West Sahara, Algeria, Niger, Libya, Chad, Central Sahara, Mali |
6-6½" | Found under rocks on sand or dug into the sand surface. The EMBL database entry for this species notes that it may also be unearthed from below ground during seasonal rains. Diet consists of small beetles and their larvae. Scalation details: 2 supranasals which contact behind rostral: no postnasal: frenocular of equal length and height: 2 preoculars, 4 supraciliaries, 2-4 postoculars: 4th supralabial contacts eye. Operculars separated from supralabials by 2-3 scales. Dorsal scales in 24-25 rows at midbody. 3 fingers, 4 toes. Coloration: dorsal scales regular, osteoderms not marked by silvery-grey pigmentation. |
| S. sepsoides | Audouin's Skink, Sand Skink | Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sinai, S Israel |
6" | Found in dunes or coastal sand. An interesting fact noted by KKS is that the ancient Egyptians apparently revered these lizards inasmuch as they mummified them, wrapped them in cloth and placed them in wooden or bronze coffins. Scalation details: 1 azygous supranasal behind rostral: postnasal much longer than high: frenocular longer than high: no preocular, 4 supraciliaries, 3 postoculars: 4th supralabial contacts eye. Operculars not separated from supralabials: ear opening in continuous line with mouth. Dorsal scales in 22-26 (usually 24) rows at midbody. 5 fingers (1st and 5th sometimes reduced to stumps), 5 toes (5th sometimes reduced to stump). Coloration: dorsal scales regular, osteoderms marked by silvery-grey pigmentation. |
| S. sphenopsiformis | Senegal Skink | S Morocco, Senegal: poss. also W Sahara, Mauritania and Libya | 5½" | Found in dunes or coastal sand. Scalation details: 2 supranasals in contact behind rostral: no postnasal: frenocular equally long and high: 2 preoculars, 1 supraciliary (below 2nd supraocular), 3-4 postoculars: 4th supralabial contacts eye. Operculars separated from supralabials by 1-2 scales. Dorsal scales in 22-24 rows at midbody. 2 fingers (occasionally none), 4 toes (5th lost). Coloration: pigmentation of scales on 5th scale row of each side more pronounced: this may also occur on middorsal row or the three median rows. Osteoderms not marked by silvery-grey pigmentation. |
| S. ?? | Morocco (nr. Agadir) | 6" | This species is described in KKS, who lacked further data on it to make a firm identification. Only 2 specimens have ever been found, over 30 years apart. The 1st specimen was found in dunes. Scalation details: 2 supranasals in contact: no postnasal: frenocular longer than high: 1 preocular, 2 postoculars: 4th supralabial contacts eye. The position of the supraciliaries is indistinct: 2nd supraocular either side is fragmented, with small triangular scale at anterior lower margin and 2 small narrow scales in line at inferior margins of 4th supraocular. Operculars separated from last supralabial by 2 scales. Dorsal scales in 24 rows at midbody. 2 fingers, 4 toes. Coloration: 2 dark spots on each dorsal scale that form longitudinal lines in the specimen discovered in 1993 by Schleich (KKS). Osteoderms not marked by silvery-grey pigmentation. | |
Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa, W Kästle, H H Schleich and K Kabisch, Koeltz Scientific Books, Germany 1996. Outstanding review of N African herpetofauna giving detailed account of each species. Please note I have not included all the details from this book here: in particular KKS have some useful details on the herpetological communities (ie sympatric species).
None found so far.
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