Deplanche's shiny skink (''Sigaloseps deplanchei'') is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Scincidae. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
New Caledonia
)
, anthem = ""
, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
.
[
]
Etymology
The specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''deplanchei'', is in honor of French naval surgeon Émile Deplanche.[ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Sigaloseps deplanchei'', p. 69).]
Geographic range
''S. deplanchei'' is found in South Province, New Caledonia
The South Province () is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia. It corresponds to the southern and southwestern portion of the New Caledonian mainland.
Overview
It is by far the most economically developed and most urbanized ...
.[
]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
s of ''S. deplanchei'' are forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
and shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...
, at altitudes up to .[
]
Description
Medium-sized for the genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Sigaloseps
''Sigaloseps'' is a genus of skinks which inhabit the moist, closed forest of southern New Caledonia.
Conservation status
There is some conservation concern for ''Sigaloseps'' because of mining activity taking place in the region.
Species
The ...
'', adults of ''S. deplanchei'' have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of not more than .[
]
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of ''S. deplanchei'' is unknown.[
]
References
Further reading
* Bavay A (1869). "''Catalogue des Reptiles de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et description d'espèces nouvelles'' ". ''Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Normandie'' 15: 1–37. (''Lygosoma deplanchei'', new species, p. 23). (in French).
* Sadlier RA (1987). "A review of the scincid lizards of New Caledonia". ''Records of the Australian Museum'' 39 (1): 1–66. (''Sigaloseps deplanchei'', new combination).
*Sadlier RA, Bauer AM (1999). "The scincid lizard genus ''Sigaloseps'' (Reptilia: Scincidae) from New Caledonia in the Southwest Pacific: description of a new species and review of the biology, distribution and morphology of ''Sigaloseps deplanchei'' (Bavay)". ''Rec. Australian Mus.'' 51 (1): 83–91.
Sigaloseps
Reptiles described in 1869
Skinks of New Caledonia
Endemic fauna of New Caledonia
Taxa named by Arthur René Jean Baptiste Bavay
{{Skink-stub