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Eastern skink
Emerging from the sand, Al Wakrah, Qatar
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata
Family:
Scincidae
Genus:
Scincus
Species:
S. mitranus
Binomial name
Scincus mitranus
Anderson, 1871[2]
The eastern skink (Scincus mitranus), also known as the Arabian sand skink or the eastern sandfish, is a species of lizard in the skink family, Scincidae.[1][2] It is endemic to the deserts and arid lands of the east-southeastern Arabian Peninsula north to Western Iran. Truly at home within fine, loosely-grained desert sand, this skink is known for resting while completely buried, keeping only its nostrils, and possibly part of its face, above ground for oxygen. In addition to ambushing passing invertebrate prey (likewise with only its nose or face exposed), Scincus mitranus will readily "dive" into the sand at the first sign of danger, appearing to "swim" through the dunes as they hastily bury themselves deeper to hide. Their naturally glossy, shiny and smooth scales—typical of the skink family, in general—enable quick digging and rapid movement within the fine, often very hot, substrate, with no external injury or irritation to their bodies. This behavior has earned S. mitranus its common names of "sandfish" and "sand skink".
^ abEls, J.; Eid, E.K.A.; Al Johany, A.M.H.; Amr, Z.S.S.; Egan, D.M.; Sharifi, M.; Papenfuss, T.; Shafiei Bafti, S. (2012). "Scincus mitranus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T164651A1064287. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T164651A1064287.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abScincus mitranus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 August 2016.
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