Schneider’s Gold Skink
Status: Category ENB1ab(iii). A sporadically distributed south-Turanian subspecies of a south-west Palaearctic species, represented in Kyrgyzstan by scattered very small populations [19, 20], vulnerable at the periphery of the species' range; included in the Red Data Book of Tajikistan (category 2) [12].
General distribution and in the country. The species ranges from Southwestern Algeria to Western India. The taxonomic affiliation and subspecies division are debated [29, 30, 31]. N. s. princeps inhabits Eastern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Eastern Caucasus, Afghanistan, southern Central Asia (north to the Nuratau and Chardara mountains), Pakistan, and Northwestern India [1, 15, 30, 31]. In Kyrgyzstan, it is found in the foothills of the Turkestan Range (Takhtaboz Range [20], lower reaches of the Lailak [6] and Sukh [19] rivers) and the eastern foothills of the Keklik-Too Range near the village of Aravan [20] (the extreme eastern point of the species' range).
Habitat. More or less closely associated with foothills, inhabiting both loess and clayey as well as heavily stony slopes, usually with sparse woody-shrub vegetation, occasionally inhabiting dry riverbeds, tugai, sands, vineyards, etc. [1]. In Kyrgyzstan, it has been recorded at altitudes up to 1200 m above sea level, only on heavily stony deserted slopes, where it has likely been displaced from densely populated areas.
Population. Rare everywhere [12, 20]. There is no information on the current status of populations in Kyrgyzstan; it is reliably known that four individuals were found in three aforementioned localities in the Batken and Osh regions [6, 19, 20].
Life style (life cycles). Lives in burrows of rodents, birds, tortoises, digs its own burrows up to 2 m long and 60 cm deep [1]. Hibernation ends later than other lizards, in May. Active during the day, it uses clusters of rocky debris [19] and cracks as shelters. It feeds on invertebrates, mainly insects and their larvae, and occasionally larger individuals eat geckos and skinks [1]. The female lays 6-9 eggs in July-August [1], and there are reports that the female guards the newborns [20]; the young use the maternal burrow for hibernation and as a permanent shelter until the next summer.
Limiting factors. In Kyrgyzstan - reduction of suitable habitats due to land development in habitat areas, natural low abundance and isolation at the physical-geographical and climatic limits of the species' range [19], predation pressure (corsac, ferret, large snakes, birds of prey, etc.) and destruction by humans, possibly capture by terrarium enthusiasts [20].
Breeding (keeping in captivity). The Schneider’s Gold Skink is a common inhabitant of amateur terrariums and zoos [3, 15, 18], with known cases of breeding in captivity. Breeding is not conducted in Kyrgyzstan.
Existing conservation measures. Currently, it is not protected in Kyrgyzstan; none of the known locations and possible habitats are found within existing protected areas. It is listed in the Red Data Book of Tajikistan [12].
Recommended conservation measures. Regulation of natural resource use in habitats (reducing grazing pressure, preserving arid biotopes with shrub thickets in their pristine state), as well as developing breeding methods, promoting species conservation, and introducing a ban on capture by amateurs.
Kadimki Tartak Skink
Schneider’s Gold Skink
Novoeumeces schneideri (Daudin, 1802) ssp. princeps (Eichwald, 1839)
Status: Endangered (category EN Blab (iii)), this is sporadically distributed south-Turanian subspecies of south-west Palaearctic species, critically endangered in the country (scanty marginal populations at extreme eastern edge of specific area). It populates loess, clayey and stony semi-deserts in arid plains and piedmont slopes with shrubby vegetation. It is diurnally active insectivore species; hibernation finishes in May, females lay 6-9 eggs in July - August and guard the hole with young generation. In Kyrgyzstan, it is still known by four registrations in separate low-mountain spurs of Turkestan and Alai Mountains, up to 1,200 m above sea level. Limiting factors: reducing of areas of occupancy owing to virgin land development, persecution by people and natural enemies, natural low abundance in isolated marginal populations. The species is neither bred nor protected in the country. Decreasing of anthropogenic influence in habitats, development of breeding in captivity, wide explanatory work for people and control for capture prohibition are offered for conservation of the species.
