Bridled mabuya

The bridled mabuya or bridled skink (Heremites vittatus) is a species of skinks found in North Africa and Middle East. The length of those skinks is up to 22 cm.

Bridled mabuya

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Heremites
Species:
H. vittatus
Binomial name
Heremites vittatus
(Olivier, 1804)
Synonyms

Eutropis vittata
Mabuya vittata
Trachylepis vittata

The binomial name of this species has seen multiple updates in early 2000. The current binomial name is Heremites vittatus. Previously it was known as Mabuya vittata and for short period as Eutropis vittata and Trachylepis vittata . The reason for those changes is an attempt to divide the vast genus Mabuya in a few smaller genera.

The bridled mabuya lives in open sandy or stony soil with little grass or bushy vegetation. It is usually found near water; in Egypt in the Wetlands and near oases in Tunisia. It can grow up to 22 centimeters long and has a smooth, shiny, body with overlapping scales. Their heads are cone shaped and they have elongated bodies and a tapering tail that is easily broken but can be regenerated.

The bridled mabuya feeds primarily on insects and other arthropods.

References
  1. Böhme, W., Mateo, J.A., Joger, U., Slimani, T., El Mouden, E.H., Geniez, P., Hraoui-Bloquet, S., Nouira, M.S., Baha El Din, S., Lymberakis, P., Kaska, Y., Kumlutaş, Y., Kaya, U., Avci, A., Üzüm, N., Yeniyurt, C. & Akarsu, F. 2017. Heremites vittatus (amended version of 2009 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T61586A120691593. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T61586A120691593.en. Downloaded on 15 April 2020.


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