{"id":2963,"date":"2020-01-16T09:57:28","date_gmt":"2020-01-16T09:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/?page_id=2963"},"modified":"2020-01-28T16:20:10","modified_gmt":"2020-01-28T16:20:10","slug":"chalcides_colosii","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/en\/ficha\/chalcides_colosii\/","title":{"rendered":"Species page of Chalcides colosii"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Colosi’s Cylindrical Skink
\nChalcides colosii<\/span>\u00a0Lanza, 1957<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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By\u00a0Francisco Jimenez-Cazalla<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Updated:\u00a023\/09\/2012<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Taxonomy:\u00a0Sauria\u00a0|\u00a0Scincidae\u00a0|\u00a0Chalcides\u00a0|\u00a0Chalcides colosii<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Chalcides
Adult. Pen\u00ednsula Tingitana. Photo: \u00a9 Francisco Jim\u00e9nez-Cazalla.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Range<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\u00a0Chalcides colosii<\/span><\/p>\n

Distribution map of
\nChalcides colosii<\/span>
\nin Morocco.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gallery: 7 photos.\u00a0[ENTER]<\/a><\/p>\n

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Description<\/h2>\n
\n
\"Chalcides
Head detail. Rif. Photo: \u00a9 G. Booth-Rea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Small to medium size skink, with a head-body length between 64 and 114 mm. The average is about 85 mm. (Schleich\u00a0et al<\/em>., 1996, Mateo\u00a0et al<\/em>., 2003). Pentadactyl and small tips. Head broad with rounded snout. Smooth and shiny dorsal scales in a number between 30-33 around the body (Mateo\u00a0et al<\/em>., 2003). Cephalic pholidosis similar to other species of the\u00a0ocellatus<\/span>\u00a0complex, with large front scale and 4 supralabials scale prior to the infraocular scale.<\/p>\n

Brown dorsal coloration, with two black longitudinal bands on both sides of the body ranging from head to rear. Between these and the back another color band appears more clearly, often golden brown off. Tips usually darker than the back. Presents usually labial scales more or less white stained, these spots extending to the tympanic cavity. Young individuals may have more or less conspicuous ocelli. In eastern populations there is a tendency to be uniform in color, appearing individuals who lack the black side bands, or where they are just in the head and neck (Mateo\u00a0et\u00a0al<\/em>.,\u00a02003).<\/p>\n

Ecology and habits<\/h2>\n

Diurnal species, with known crepuscular activity in the summer (Schleich\u00a0et al<\/em>., 1996). It has great speed and agility, allowing it to run efficiently in case of danger. No references were found on food or annual cycle of reproduction in the literature.<\/p>\n

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\"Chalcides
Juvenile. Between Bou-Ahmed and Torres de Alcala. Rif. Photo: \u00a9 Francisco Jim\u00e9nez-Cazalla.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Distribution, habitat and abundance<\/h2>\n

Endemic to the Rif region. Their presence is known from Tangier to the outskirts of Melilla, and south to Ouezzane (Bons & Geniez, 1996; Mateo\u00a0et al<\/em>., 2003). Primarily concerned with the humid and subhumid bioclimatic zones, and not usually present in areas with rainfall below 600 mm annually. In the Do\u00f1ana Biological Station are preserved several specimens from Melilla, which is also included in the semi-arid zone. Altitudinally is present from sea level to 1500 m. (Fahd & Pleguezuelos, 1996).<\/p>\n

It’s often found in forest environments, bypassing the closed areas and preferring the margins, and clear-served areas, often on slopes and stony areas. It\u00b4s also found in gardens, scrubland and gallery forests (Fahd & Pleguezuelos, 1996 ). This species has been found in ruins located on the beach, just meters from where the waves break and surrounded by a rocky environment with little vegetation cover (Jim\u00e9nez-Cazalla,\u00a0obs. pers.<\/i>).<\/p>\n

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Habitat examples where the species was found. From top to bottom: Tingitana Peninsula. Detail of the typical habitat: clarified cork. Rif coastal area Photos: \u00a9 Francisco Jim\u00e9nez-Cazalla.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Deforestation and overgrazing is causing isolation and regression of their populations in much of their limited range. (Pleguezuelos\u00a0et al<\/em>., 2002, Mateo\u00a0et al<\/em>., 2003).<\/p>\n

References<\/h3>\n