SCINCIDAE

Krysko, Kenneth L., Burgess, Joseph P., Rochford, Michael R., Gillette, Christopher R., Cueva, Daniel, Enge, Kevin M., Somma, Louis A., Stabile, Jennifer L., Smith, Dustin C., Wasilewski, Joseph A., Kieckhefer Iii, Guy N., Granatosky, Michael C. & Nielsen, Stuart V., 2011, 3028, Zootaxa 3028, pp. 1-64 : 42-45

SCINCIDAE

The Ocellated Skink, Chalcides ocellatus ( Forskål 1775) , is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean, and Middle East ( Schleich et al. 1996), and it has been introduced to France and Great Britain, and established in Italy ( Kraus 2009). In 1999, John Decker collected a juvenile C. ocellatus (photographic voucher UF 135284 ) in Miramar, Broward County (25.987306 o N, - 80.232268 o W). We are uncertain of the introduction pathway of this species there, but for years Glades Herp Farm, Inc. has purchased wild collected C. ocellatus from Miramar for resale in the pet trade (Rob Roy MacInnes personal communication), suggesting that it is or was established (stage 3) there. However, we do not have any evidence of establishment at this time. Between August and September 2004, Jay P. Marino, Jr., collected> 4 adult C. ocellatus (three vouchers deposited UF 142588 –90, 97.9 mm, 102.3 mm, and 83.4 mm SVL, respectively) in a grassy yard with anthropogenic debris at 7335 Gulf Highlands Drive, New Port Richey, Pasco County (28.326616 o N, - 82.692759 o W). On 22 November 2004 at 1310 h, KLK and KME visited this site and collected a juvenile (67.7 mm SVL) C. ocellatus ( UF 142587 ; MorphoBank M88651 ; Fig. 60) under a rock on sandy soil alongside a neighbor’s house. We were unable to determine the source of these animals, but the presence of numerous adults and juveniles suggests that reproduction has occurred (stage 3) in this neighborhood, which consists of many similar houses with small yards. The adjacent neighbor had also observed this semi-fossorial species in his yard (Anonymous personal communication). This species likely was released or had escaped (stage 2) from an enclosure. These represent the first known vouchers for this species in Florida.

Cunningham’s Skink, Egernia cunninghami ( Gray 1832) , is indigenous to southeastern Australia ( Cogger 2000), and it has been unsuccessfully introduced to New Zealand ( Kraus 2009). On 10 October 2008, Kurt W. Larson collected an E. cunninghami (92 mm SVL, 163 mm TL; photographic voucher UF 153760 ; MorphoBank M88652 ; Fig. 61) in the kitchen of a residence at 2649 Andros Lane, Kissimmee, Osceola County. This species likely was released or had escaped (stage 2) from an enclosure. This represents the first known voucher for this species in Florida.

The Fire Skink, Lepidothyris fernandi ( Burton 1836) , is indigenous to a widespread region of sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea and Liberia, east to Kenya and Uganda, and as far south as Angola ( Spawls et al. 2002). On 13 June 2008 at 2330 h, MRR et al. collected an adult L. fernandi (photographic voucher UF 153513 ; MorphoBank M88653 ; Fig. 62) in grass along a wall just outside the property of the animal importer's facility at 6450 Stirling Road, Hollywood, Broward County (26.04591 o N, - 80.21976 o W). This species likely was released or had escaped (stage 2) from an enclosure. This represents the first known voucher for this species in Florida.

The Eastern Bluetongue Skink, Tiliqua scincoides ( White 1790) , is indigenous to a widespread region of northern, eastern and southeastern Australia, and portions of New Guinea, including urban and suburban habitat ( Cogger 2000; Koenig et al. 2001), and it has been introduced to New Zealand ( Kraus 2009). Gibbons et al. (2009) hypothesized that T. scincoides could be introduced to Florida through the pet trade. On 15 November 2007, Robert Mondgock collected an adult T. scincoides (photographic voucher UF 152392 ; MorphoBank M88654 ; Fig. 63) at 623 SW 28 th Terrace, Cape Coral, Lee County (26.599023 o N, - 81.987423 o W). This species likely was released or had escaped (stage 2) from an enclosure. This represents the first known voucher for this species in Florida.