Lancelin Island skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lancelin Island skink |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Ctenotus
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| Species: |
lancelini
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The Lancelin Island skink (Ctenotus lancelini) is a special kind of lizard called a skink. It is also known as the Lancelin south-west ctenotus. This skink is found only in one place in the world: Lancelin Island in Western Australia. This means it is an endemic species.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this skink is Ctenotus lancelini. The second part of its name, lancelini, tells us where it lives. It was named after Lancelin Island, which is a small island off the coast of Western Australia. A scientist named Julian Ralph Ford officially described this skink in 1969.
Where It Lives
The Lancelin Island skink lives only on Lancelin Island. This island is a small, sandy place located off the coast of Western Australia. Because this skink lives only on this one island, its home is very small and special. It means that if something bad happens to the island, it could be very dangerous for these skinks.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Like many other lizards, the Lancelin Island skink is oviparous. This means that the female skink lays eggs. She does not give birth to live young. The eggs hatch later, and tiny skinks emerge from them.
Why It's Special: Conservation Status
The Lancelin Island skink is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN. This is a very serious warning. It means that this skink is facing an extremely high risk of becoming extinct, or disappearing forever, in the wild.
There are many reasons why an animal might become critically endangered. For the Lancelin Island skink, its small habitat on just one island makes it very vulnerable. Things like changes to its environment, or new animals arriving on the island, could threaten its survival. Scientists and conservation groups work to protect species like the Lancelin Island skink so they can continue to live and thrive.
