Yellow-bellied Skink / Butsuz Glass Lizard, Snake-like Glass Lizard / Sheltopusik, or Armour Glass Lizard

Sheltopusik

Status: Near Threatened (category NT). A rare widely distributed representative of a monotypic genus, with decreasing populations and habitat range in Kyrgyzstan. Listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan [10]. Its distribution is general and within the country. The range extends from the Balkan Peninsula and Crimea through Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan to Western Pakistan, Badakhshan, Central Asia, and Southern Pri Balkhash [1, 2, 10, 15]. In Kyrgyzstan, it is found in the Chuy Valley and the slopes of the foothills and ridges facing the Fergana Valley (Turkestan, Alai, Fergana, and Chatkal), and has also been recorded in the Talas region at the western end of the Kyrgyz ridge [6] and the lower reaches of the Chatkal River [19]. Information about the presence of the species in the Ketmen-Tyube basin needs clarification.

Habitat. Floodplain terraces of river valleys, tugai, steppes, and sparse forests on the slopes of the foothills, with mesophytic vegetation, less frequently - stony semi-deserts on plains and plateaus in close proximity to water, and cultivated lands, up to an altitude of 2300 m above sea level [1, 10, etc.]. In the Chuy Valley, it inhabits the plain and lower foothill zone [6, 19, 20, 25], and in the southern part of the Republic, it ascends to the mountains up to 2000 m above sea level [1, 6, 19, 20, 25].

Population. Special studies in Kyrgyzstan have not been conducted. In suitable biotopes, up to 6 specimens are found on a 10 km transect; in recent years, it has been rarely encountered, especially in the Chuy Valley [20].

Life Style (Life Cycles). Hibernation in Kyrgyzstan ends in March - mid-April for adults, and for individuals born the previous year - a little later, until May [19, 20, 25]. In June-July, the female lays 4-8 (10) eggs (averaging 20x40 mm), during the incubation period (30-45 days) she cares for the clutch, and then usually goes into summer hibernation. In valleys and hot foothills, summer hibernation transitions into winter hibernation [20]; in cooler conditions and in captivity, they can be active until September, with females continuing to protect the young and even yielding food [15]. Sexual maturity is reached in the 4th year of life. A sedentary species, usually not moving further than 200-300 m from shelters, which include burrows and cavities under stones and between shrub roots; it can climb onto branches and is capable of escaping from predators into the water [1, etc.]. It feeds on invertebrates, small skinks, and rodents, and is undoubtedly a beneficial species that destroys pests in fields.

Limiting Factors. Anthropogenic: reduction of suitable habitats (land plowing, intensive grazing), use of pesticides in agricultural lands, as well as direct destruction by local populations [1, 10, 20].

Breeding (Captivity Maintenance). Not conducted in Kyrgyzstan. When kept in terrariums, it is undemanding in terms of food but poorly tolerates its deficiency and weak lighting; it breeds rarely [3, 15, 18, 19].

Existing Conservation Measures. Currently, it is not specifically protected in Kyrgyzstan; a small part of its habitat is located in the territories of the Tokmak Complex and Zhilkeldin Forest Reserves, in the extreme western part of the Besh-Aral Reserve, and possibly in the lower part of the buffer zone of the Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve [20].

Recommended Conservation Measures. Creation of micro-reserves in breeding areas, regulation of natural resource use in habitats, and widespread promotion of species protection as harmless (non-venomous) and beneficial among the local population.

Armour Glass-lizard, or Sheltopusik

Sheltopusik, or Armour Glass-lizard
Pseudopus apodus (Pallas, 1775)
Status: Near Threatened (category NT), a representative of a monotypic large apodal lizard genus, with a reducing number in natural populations. Its specific area includes the Balkan and Crimea Peninsulas, Caucasus, and Southwestern Asia up to Balkhash Lake. In Kyrgyzstan, it populates plains and piedmont zones in the Chuy Valley and Fergana region, with mesophytic vegetation, up to 2,000 m above sea level, and is also recorded in the lowest parts of the Talas and Chatkal valleys. It is a diurnal predator, catching invertebrates, small rodents, and skinks; females lay 4-10 eggs in June - July. Lizards are active from March - April up to July, with young appearing the following year after hibernation and achieving reproductive age in their 4th year. The population in Kyrgyzstan is small: up to 6 specimens per 10-km survey in habitats. Limiting factors include agricultural development of habitats (ploughing and pasturage) and direct persecution by people. The species is not bred and is not specially protected in Kyrgyzstan; it is included in the Red Data Book of adjacent Kazakhstan. Development of breeding in captivity and extensive educational work for the public are recommended for the conservation of the species.