European copper skink
Ablepharus kitaibelii
''Ablepharus kitaibelii'', the European copper skink, juniper skink or European snake-eyed skink, is a species of lizards from the skink family .
This small, slender lizard grows up to 15 centimetres long, and lives in Eastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is native to Greece , Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, Hungary, Albania, Slovakia, the Caucasus, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and possibly Iraq. The ''fitzingeri'' subspecies is known from Slovakia, Hungary, Greece and the island of Corfu. The ''stepaneki'' subspecies is known from Bulgaria and Romania.
It is a shy species, which lives under stones and leaves in dry places, such as south slopes, fields, and meadows. The skin is bronze coloured, with dark sides. The eyelids are immovable, in contrast to many other skinks.
''A. kitaibelii'' is active during twilight, and hunts for insects and small snails. It is a typical ground dweller, and dislikes climbing. The species is protected. Many former subspecies have been promoted to categorization as species, such as ''Ablepharus rueppellii'' and ''Ablepharus budaki''.
This small, slender lizard grows up to 15 centimetres long, and lives in Eastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is native to Greece , Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, Hungary, Albania, Slovakia, the Caucasus, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and possibly Iraq. The ''fitzingeri'' subspecies is known from Slovakia, Hungary, Greece and the island of Corfu. The ''stepaneki'' subspecies is known from Bulgaria and Romania.
It is a shy species, which lives under stones and leaves in dry places, such as south slopes, fields, and meadows. The skin is bronze coloured, with dark sides. The eyelids are immovable, in contrast to many other skinks.
''A. kitaibelii'' is active during twilight, and hunts for insects and small snails. It is a typical ground dweller, and dislikes climbing. The species is protected. Many former subspecies have been promoted to categorization as species, such as ''Ablepharus rueppellii'' and ''Ablepharus budaki''.
