COMMON NAME:
What is called the "Schneider's" skink in the west, is called the "Berber" skink in Europe. Due to the fact that many animals have multiple common names, scientists refer to them by their scientific names (genus and species) which is usually standardized world wide.
TAXONOMY:
Common Name: Schneider's (Berber) skink Kingdom: Animalia {"Animals" and insects} Phylum: Chordata {Animals with a backbone} Class: Reptilia {Not amphibians} Order: Squamata {Snakes and Lizards} Suborder: Sauria {Lizards} Family: Scincidae {Type of lizard - Skinks} Genus: Novoeumeces [Eumeces] {Type of skink} Species: schneideri {Specific type of skink}
Genus History:
The old Genus for this species is Eumeces and the new Genus being Novoeumeces. However they are both technically correct. The old Genus though, may be more widely used.
TAXONOMIC MEMORIZATION AID: "King Philip Came Over Steve's For Great Spaghetti"
HABITAT:
From northern Africa to western parts of Asia
Desert environment
ADULT SIZE:
Schneider's reach their adult size somewhere between 2 to 3 years of age. This does not necessarily mean they are sexually mature at this point.
EVOLUTION:
Skinks evolved into modern day snakes. Skinks have short, stubby legs which don’t do them much justice on the surface. They are much more productive beneath the surface. Therefore, the ones that turned into snakes lost their legs through evolution (Discovery Channel). This process may have occurred approximately 20 million years ago.
