Bojer's skink

Bojer's skink (Gongylomorphus bojerii, formerly Scelotes bojeri) is a small species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Mauritius including some of its offshore islands.

Bojer's skink
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Superfamily:	Scincoidea
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Gongylomorphus
Species:	G. bojerii
Binomial name
Gongylomorphus bojerii (Desjardins, 1831)
Approximate distribution Depicted: Mauritius (Coin de Mire, Round Island, and Ile aux Fouquets), Southern Africa   Range   Extinct
Synonyms[2]
Scincus bojerii Desjardins, 1831 Gongylus bojerii — A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839 Scelotes bojeri — Boulenger, 1887 Gongylomorphus bojeri — Greer, 1970 Gongylomorphus bojerii — Brygoo, 1981

Etymology

Both the specific name, bojerii, and the common name, Bojer's skink, are in honor of Czech naturalist Wenceslas Bojer.^[3]

Description

G. bojerii is about 11 cm (4.3 in) in total length, including a 6 cm (2.4 in) tail. It has five digits on each extremity.

Geographic range

Bojer's skink occurs in patches of the Black River Gorges National Park and on some off-shore islands of Mauritius, including Ilot Vacoas, Round Island, Serpent Island, Ilot Gabriel, Pigeon Rock, Flat Island, Gunner's Quoin, Ile aux Aigrettes, and Ile de la Passe.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of G. bojerii are grassland, shrubland, and forest, at altitudes from sea level to 280 m (920 ft).^[1]

Behavior

G. bojerii is diurnal and terrestrial.^[1]

Reproduction

The mode of reproduction of G. bojerii is unknown.^[2]

Threats

The Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus) has aided in the decline of G. bojerii. Thanks to the efforts of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, this invasive species of mammal was eradicated from the habitat of Bojer's skink. Also, captive breeding and reintroduction efforts at the Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary have helped to increase the population of G. bojerii.