Ophiomorus latastii

Ophiomorus latastii, also known commonly as Lataste's snake skink^[2] and Latast's [sic] snake skink^[3] is a species of skink, a lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae.^[1] The species is native to the Near East.

Ophiomorus latastii
Specimen from Jordan
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Ophiomorus
Species:	O. latastii
Binomial name
Ophiomorus latastii Boulenger, 1887

Etymology

The specific name, latastii, is in honor of French herpetologist Fernand Lataste.^[2]

Geographic range

O. latastii is found in Israel, Jordan, Occupied Palestinian territories, Syria, and possibly Lebanon.^[1]

Habitat

The natural habitats of O. latastii are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.^[1]

Description

O. latastii is limbless. The snout is conical. There are 16 scale rows around the body at midbody.^[3]

Reproduction

O. latastii is viviparous.^[3]

Conservation status

The species O. latastii is threatened by habitat loss.^[1]

References

1. Disi, M., A.M. [sic]; Werner, Y.; Crochet, P-A. [sic]; Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Sadek, R. (2006). "Ophiomorus latastii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T61539A12510871. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61539A12510871.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Ophiomorus latastii, p. 151).
3. Species Ophiomorus latastii at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

• Baker MAA, Amr ZS (2022). "On the Current Status of Ophiomorus latastii Boulenger, 1887 (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) in Jordan". Herpetological Conservation and Biology 17 (2): 343–348.
• Bar, Aviad; Haimovitch, Guy; Meiri, Shai (2021). Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Israel. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. 512 pp. ISBN 978-3899731200.
• Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. ... Scincidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I–XL. (Ophiomorus latastii, new species, p. 398 + Plate XXXIII, Figures 2, 2a).
• Sindaco R, Jeremčenko VK (2008). Reptiles of the Western Palearctic. 1. Annotated Checklist and Distributional Atlas of the Turtles, Crocodiles, Amphisbaenians and Lizards of Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. (Monographs of the Societas Herpetologica Italica). Latina, Italy: Edizioni Belvedere. 580 pp. ISBN 978-88-89504-14-7.