(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - SKINK, SAND
OTHER COMMON NAMES - SKINK, SAND;SKINK, SAND and FLORIDA
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Reptiles
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - REPTILIA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - SQUAMATA,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - SCINCIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - NEOSEPS,
SPECIES AND SSP - REYNOLDSI,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - NEOSEPS REYNOLDSI
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Sand Skink
Neoseps reynoldsi Stejneger, 1910
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Reptile
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Reptilia
ORDER: Squamata FAMILY: Scincidae
The sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi Stejneger, 1910) is a small,
slender lizard with very small legs. Total length is about 12 cm
(5 in.); half of this is the tail. The limbs are extremely small;
the forelimbs have only one toe, and can be folded into grooves on
the sides. The hindlimbs have only two toes. The color is grey or
whitish (01,02,03).
The sand skink was described by Stejneger in 1910 (04) and has
been treated taxonomically as a monotypic genus since that time.
Descriptions and color photos of the sand skink have been published
(01,03).
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Florida; Federal Threatened
Florida; Officially Listed
T: Federal Threatened
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) has been designated as
Threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as
amended. The species/subspecies has this status wherever found
including the State of Florida.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal
(alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation, or foreign law; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
USFS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for management/recovery on Forest Service lands. The
Forest Service is responsible for integrating
management, protection, and conservation of Federally
listed species into the Forest Planning process
(36 CFR 219.19 and 219.20).
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
STATE: Florida
DESIGNATED STATUS: Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Florida Department of Natural Resources
STATE STATUTE: Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Act of
1977, Sec. 372.072, Florida Stat.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.
82/12/30:47 FR 58454/58460 - Notice of review
85/09/18:50 FR 37958/37967 - Notice of review
87/01/21:52 FR 02242/02245 - Proposed rule
87/11/06:52 FR 42659/42663 - Final rule - Threatened
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES
SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE
Longleaf Pine shrub--seedling
Longleaf Pine young tree
Longleaf Pine mature tree
Longleaf Pine Old Growth
Shortleaf Pine-Oak shrub--seedling
Shortleaf Pine-Oak young tree
Shortleaf Pine-Oak mature tree
Shortleaf Pine-Oak Old Growth
LAND USE -
Deciduous Forest Land
Evergreen Forest Land
Mixed Forest Land
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) is restricted to sand pine
(Pinus clausa), rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides), scrub or longleaf
pine (Pinus palustris), turkey oak (Quercus laevis) forest (01,02,05,
06). The species is not restricted to any particular plant
association but requires dry, well-drained sandy sites free from
rooted vegetation (07).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Terrestrial Features: Burrows
G Terrestrial Features: Hills
G Terrestrial Features: Downed logs
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
The sand skink eats both hard and soft bodied arthropods (06);
most of the diet consists of beetle larvae, larval antlions, and
termites (06,07).
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Territoriality appears to be undocumented, although male fighting
has been reported (05).
PERIODICITY:
Specimens have been observed on the soil surface during daylight
hours (05).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
The sand skink is non-migratory.
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
The sand skink requires loose sand, free of roots and ground
cover, to burrow in (07,08). Some moisture is preferred or required,
but wet sand is avoided (05,08). The sand skink is often found in
sand under surface objects (05,06,08).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Eggs are apparently laid in an underground cavity (05).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
During courtship, the male sand skink seizes the female in his
jaws and strokes the side of the female with the forelimbs.
Copulation, observed in April, in captivity, lasted 7 minutes. The
female laid 2 eggs 55 days later. The eggs are brooded by the female.
It has estimated that 5 weeks are required for incubation. Hatchlings
are about 50 mm (2 in.) in total length. Most sand skinks probably
breed in the second year of life (05).
PARENTAL CARE:
The female coils around the eggs, presumably remaining with them
throughout the incubation period (05).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
The sand skink is limited by the amount of available habitat
providing loose sand, adequate moisture, and some cover objects. In
some habitats, fire or other disturbances may be essential to
maintain sand skink populations (07).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
The sand skink is found in a habitat supporting other burrowing
reptiles, such as the mole skink (Eumeces egregius) and the crowned
snake (Tantilla relicta). Though found together, these 3 species
appear to avoid direct competition for food by taking different prey
items (07). The sand skink feeds mainly on termites, larval
tenebrionid beetles, and larval antlions.
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Prescribed/controlled burning of habitat
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Off-Road Vehicles
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Mining
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Maintaining Early Stages of Succession
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Recreational development
Existing Recreational development
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Suppressing wildfire
Existing Suppressing wildfire
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The primary threat to the sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) is
the conversion of dry, sandy uplands to agricultural, residential,
and commercial uses, including development of citrus groves, improved
pasture, housing, and commercial properties (02,05,06). Such land
uses are ongoing and can be expected to continue into the future.
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
A recovery plan for the sand skink has not been completed. The
initiation date for the recovery plan has not been set.
The main recovery need is to protect sufficient suitable habitat
from development, and to manage this habitat to prevent succession to
less suitable conditions. Some recommendations for recovery inlcude:
- Maintaining early stages of succession,
- Initiate land acquisitions or aggreements with landowners
and developers,
- Restrict and control development through land use zoning,
- Control and restrict mining activities in and around the
sand skinks habitat,
- Control the use of off-road vehicles, and
- Initiate prescribed burning.
Both public (State of Florida Conservation and Recreational Lands
Program) and private (Archbold Biological State, The Nature
Conservancy) land acquisition efforts currently protect some of the
habitat of the sand skink.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species SKINK, SAND
Species Id ESIS154016
Date 14 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Ashton, R.E., Jr., and P.S. Ashton. 1985. Handbook of reptiles
and amphibians of Florida, Part 2, Lizards, turtles, and
crocodilians. Windward Publ., Inc., Miami, FL. 191 pp.
02 Christman, S.P. 1978. Sand skink. IN: R.W. McDiarmid, Rare and
Endangered biota of Florida, Vol. 3. Amphibians and reptiles.
Univ. Press of Florida, Gainesville.
03 Conant, R. 1975. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians of
eastern and central North America, 2nd Ed. Houghton Mifflin Co.,
Boston, Mass. 429 pp.
04 Stejneger, L. 1910. A new genus and species of lizard from
Florida. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 39:33-35.
05 Telford, S.R., Jr. 1959. A study of the sand skink, Neoseps
reynoldsi Stejneger. Copeia 2:110-119.
06 Telford, S.R., Jr. 1962. New locality records for the sand skink
(Neoseps reynoldsi) in central Florida, with comments on the
habitat. Quart. J. Florida Acad. Sci. 25(1):76-77.
07 Campbell, H.W., and S.P. Christman. 1982. The herpetological
components of Florida sandhill and sand pine scrub associations.
IN: Scott, N.J., Herpetological communities. U.S. Fish and Wildl.
Serv. Wildl. Res. Rept. 13. 163-171 pp.
08 Myers, C.W., and S.R. Telford, Jr. 1965. Food of Neoseps, the
Florida sand skink. Quart. J. Florida Acad. Sci. 25(2):190-194.
09 Smith, C.R. 1982. Food resource partitioning of fossorial Florida
reptiles. IN: N.J. Scott, Jr., Herpetological communities. U.S.
Fish and Wildl. Serv. Wildl. Res. Rept. 13. 173-178 pp.
10 Cooper, B.W. 1953. Notes on the life history of the lizard,
Neoseps reynoldsi Stejneger. Quart. J. Florida Acad. Sci.
16(4):235-238.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 1987. Occurrences for sand
skink. Data Base. 254 East 6th Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32303.
02 Telford, R.S., Jr. 1962. New locality records for the sand skink
(Neoseps reynoldsi) in central Florida with comments on the
habitat. J. Florida Acad. Sci. 25(1):76-77.
03 Christman, S.P. 1978. Sand skink. IN: R.W. Mcdiamid, Rare and
Endangered biota of Florida, Vol. 3, Amphibians and Reptiles.
Univ. Press of Florida, Gainesville.
04 Mulholland, R. 1986. Letter to Jacksonville, Florida Fish and
Wildlife Service Field Office.
References - 1