Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink
Scelotes fitzsimonsi
Silhouette: David Orr · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyScincidae (Skinks)
- GenusScelotes (Burrowing Skinks)
- SpeciesScelotes fitzsimonsi (Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink)
About the Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink
Scelotes fitzsimonsi, commonly known as Fitzsimons' dwarf burrowing skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is indigenous to southern Africa. The specific name, fitzsimonsi, is in honor of South African herpetologist (Mr.) Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons.
S. fitzsimonsi has neither front legs nor back legs. Dorsally, it is light bronze on the body and bluish gray on the tail. Ventrally, it is greyish white. Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4.5–6.5 cm (1.8–2.6 in). The tail length is equal to or slightly greater than SVL.
S. fitzsimonsi is found in Mozambique and South Africa. The preferred natural habitat of S. fitzsimonsi is coastal dune forest, up to an altitude of 100 m (330 ft). S. fitzsimonsi is ovoviviparous. Bates MF, Branch WR, Bauer AM, Burger M, Marais J, Alexander GJ, de Villiers MS (2014). Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Suricata 1. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). xvii + 485 pp. ISBN 978-1-919976-84-6. (Scelotes fitzsimonsi, p. 274... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink in iSimangaliso Wetland Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Lowveld Dwarf Burrowing Skink
Scelotes bidigittatus
Mozambique Dwarf Burrowing Skink
Scelotes mossambicus
Coastal Dwarf Burrowing Skink
Scelotes vestigifer
Eastern Sand Skink
Trachylepis depressa
African Striped Skink
Trachylepis striata
Giant Lance Skink
Acontias plumbeus
East-African Snake-eyed Skink
Cryptoblepharus africanus
Wahlberg's Snake-eyed Skink
Panaspis wahlbergii
Variable Skink
Trachylepis varia
Rainbow Skink
Trachylepis margaritifera
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Fitzsimons' Dwarf Burrowing Skink in iSimangaliso Wetland Park in our monthly data.