Skink diversity

bronxzoofrank · 12-24-12, 04:12 PM

There are 1,200+ skinks, including some that dive into streams, live in extended family groups, have evolved placentas, and so on; Overview: The Skinks (Family Scincidae)

Zoo Nanny · 12-26-12, 03:54 PM

Frank interesting read. Have you come across prehensile-tail skink parents and off spring? And if so did you find the parents to be aggressive if you were to get near the baby? We had three at ZNE. Prior to the birth of the son both parents could be handled. After the birth the parents became aggressive and very difficult to handle. A real bugger each month when they were weighed. Not one of my favorite duties. The mother wasn't too bad as long as you weren't trying to get close to the baby she would ignore you. The father was so aggressive that he had to be removed from the enclosure. Upon opening the door he would rush at you. Just curious if this is normal behavior. After being bitten once by my BTS I was nervous of being bitten by these guys.

bronxzoofrank · 12-26-12, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoo Nanny

Frank interesting read. Have you come across prehensile-tail skink parents and off spring? And if so did you find the parents to be aggressive if you were to get near the baby? We had three at ZNE. Prior to the birth of the son both parents could be handled. After the birth the parents became aggressive and very difficult to handle. A real bugger each month when they were weighed. Not one of my favorite duties. The mother wasn't too bad as long as you weren't trying to get close to the baby she would ignore you. The father was so aggressive that he had to be removed from the enclosure. Upon opening the door he would rush at you. Just curious if this is normal behavior. After being bitten once by my BTS I was nervous of being bitten by these guys.

Hi,

Thanks...yes, i saw the same with just about every breeding pair; quite a bit that we do not know about them, but it's clear they are very different from most others. Have had aggression between pairs as well, although not commonly, and 2 young ones that had to be remove and reared alone remained very aggressive for the year that I kept track of them.

A co-worker had lined up funding to do field work years ago, but all fell apart at last minute. Rights to cut much of the Solomon Is's remaining forests have, I've been told, been sold to other countries, so future field research may be difficult.

Happy holidays, Frank

Zoo Nanny · 12-26-12, 07:50 PM

With the selling of the remaining forest what will the impact be on the skinks? With them being protected will it limit the amount of trees that can be removed?

bronxzoofrank · 12-26-12, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoo Nanny

With the selling of the remaining forest what will the impact be on the skinks? With them being protected will it limit the amount of trees that can be removed?

The few surveys that have been done, usually secondarily to other work, indicate that populations are in very bad shape. Logging is key to the Solomon's economy; therefore, controls placed on export or import of the skinks have no effect on logging policies. Habitat protection is not part of the equation (see here for a history of the logging industry there). I'm wondering (without checking into it) if limiting sales etc. will actually hasten their decline. In the past, influxes of skinks into the USA and elsewhere were usually in response to increases in logging activity, as when Japan purchased the rights to log huge areas. Those skinks that survived the fall to earth were collected and sold. Without a market, I imagine most surviving skinks, if left in place, will not be able to find new habitat.

Best, Frank

Zoo Nanny · 12-27-12, 05:18 AM

This is such a sad state of affairs. Our society has become such a "me" focus and the hell with everything else. I wish there were a way of making people realize that as we kill off so many species with our chemicals, mining, logging, fishing and farming practices we will be coming down to humans as the species left to eradicate. Is there even a continent out there that does not have an animal that is on the verge of extinction with less than 100 left in a species? Sorry ranting.

StudentoReptile · 12-27-12, 06:22 AM

Skinks are definitely one of my favorite groups of lizards.

bronxzoofrank · 12-27-12, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Skinks are definitely one of my favorite groups of lizards.

Thanks...so much opportunity there, if you plan to study them on your own or professionally, enjoy, Happy Holidays, Frank

bronxzoofrank · 12-27-12, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoo Nanny

This is such a sad state of affairs. Our society has become such a "me" focus and the hell with everything else. I wish there were a way of making people realize that as we kill off so many species with our chemicals, mining, logging, fishing and farming practices we will be coming down to humans as the species left to eradicate. Is there even a continent out there that does not have an animal that is on the verge of extinction with less than 100 left in a species? Sorry ranting.

Hi,

Tough problems, as always; my experience in less developed countries has been that the prospects of our own extinction, even if it makes sense oin principal, is just too far removed from everyday realities to contemplat. The loss of something that is needed by people in the near future - ie loss all trees in 10 years, of all sea turtles, of all fish needed for dietary mainstay or commerce, tends to get some notice if backed up properly. But even so, the question of day to day arises, and people point out that industrialized nations only worried about conserving their own environments, and others, when their economies were well established and they had attained some power/security etc. Debt for nature swaps, hiring people as guides and all works somewhat, but not everyone benefits from that; then you have corruption...ahh! Well, nothing new for you here, I know...rambling also! Best, Frank