Extinct or Shy

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Side project: Snake or Lizard

Extinct or Shy

A quest to find two of the least known skinks in East Africa.

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Latest News

Check out the Extinct or Shy in “Vetenskapsradion” on the Swedish Radio

Link here!

Another article in “The Conversation”

One sentence in a book leads researchers to a species not seen in over 100 years. Link here

We found the Montane skink (Proscelotes aenea)!

Photos here!
News on the Rufford’s website here!

Still no news of the Scolecoseps boulengeri… We want search for it upnorth!

Get involved here!

We kept a pregnant Proscelotes aenea and it gave birth!

Photos here!

Our Project made it to “The Conversation”

Search for elusive skinks is filling gaps in Mozambique’s biodiversity data. Link here

The Species

The skinks Scolecoseps boulengeri and Proscelotes aenea are two of the most mysterious skinks in East Africa. They were both collected in two cities of Mozambique (Pemba and Lumbo) in the early 20th century in high numbers with very low sampling effort.

“MCZ:Herp:R-170056” – Scolecoseps boulengeri Loveridge, 1920  collected in Mozambique by Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
The Boulenger’s limbless skink (Scolecoseps boulengeri) is a skink that has no legs. Only three other species exist in the genus but unlike the other species, we have no clue about its biology and habitat. Both collections from Lumbo (1918) and Pemba (1948) have no accompanying information about where exactly they were found or in which habitat.
“MCZ:Herp:R-18355” – Proscelotes aenea (Barbour & Loveridge, 1928) collected in Mozambique by Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
The Montane skink (Proscelotes aenea), gained this name because the other two members of its genus are all restricted to Mountains. Although, the on in Lumbo is not. The species have been collected in both Lumbo (1918) and Pemba (1948) and the only information we have was that in Lumbo they were found while clearing the land to build their campsite.

Where We Are

What We Do

Trapping

We have a permanent trapping system in 5 sites spread-out in Lumbo so we can cover as much habit as possible.

Search

While our traps are catching frogs, lizards and snakes, we also actively search for species by lifting rocks or digging.

Preservation

Not much is known in terms of biodiversity in Northern Mozambique, so we are building a reference collection of the species we are encountering.

Our results

Coming soon!!

Our galleries

The team in the field
Amphibians
Reptiles
Montane skink

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Follow us on instagram @eos_lumbo
There are here!!! Even though we visit the traps everyday, many times the animals get attacked by ants and this is what we find inside the buckets… Cannibalism is common in amphibians. Here we see an Edible African Bull Frog (Pyxicephalus edulis) biting a Shovel Footed Squeaker (Arthroleptis stenodactylus). The irony 🤓 East African Puddle Frog (Phrynobatrachus acridoides) calling. They sing during the day as well. Fornasini’s Spiny Reed Frog (Afrixalus fornasinii). A very photogenic reed frog that has a very interesting call. Almost like it’s stuttering. This project has been through a lot. More recently our site was attacked by a cyclone and in 4 out 5 sampling spots we had either trees falling on our traps or floods. Im sure with other people, people would have already given up but not this team. @alilucianopuruleia and @milagre.ernesto are two tough fieldworkers and they are already fixing the traps and removing those fallen trees. I’m so proud of the team! Angolan sand snake (Psammophis angolensis) Trachylepis megalura feeding on termites! Trachylepis megalura feeding on termites