Ablepharus budaki


Ablepharus budaki, commonly known as Budak's skink and Budak's snake-eyed skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Near East.

Taxonomy

A. budaki is a scincid saurian vertebrate. In 1997, it was promoted from its status as a subspecies of Ablepharus kitaibelii to full species status.

Etymology

The specific name, budaki, is in honor of Turkish herpetologist.

Geographic range

A. budaki occurs in southern Turkey, western Syria, Cyprus, and Lebanon.

Habitat

The preferred habitat of A. budaki is leaf litter of shrubby or forested areas.

Reproduction

A. budaki is oviparous.

Conservation status

A. budaki is common and has no major threats in most of its range, though in Lebanon it may face a threat from deforestation.