Capitellum metallicum (BOCOURT, 1879)
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Capitellum metallicum?
Capitellum metallicum
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Mabuyinae (Mabuyini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Lesser Martinique Skink |
| Synonym | Mabuya metallica BOCOURT 1879: 400 Mabuya agilis — BOULENGER 1887: 190 (part) Mabuya mabouia — BARBOUR, 1930: 105 (part) Mabuya mabouia — BARBOUR, 1935: 129 (part) Mabuya mabouya mabouya — DUNN, 1936: 544 (part) Mabuya mabouia — BARBOUR, 1937: 147 (part) Mabuya mabouya mabouya — PETERS & DONOSO-BARROS, 1970: 200 (part) Mabuya mabouya mabouya — SCHWARTZ & Thomas, 1975: 141 (part) Mabuya mabouya mabouya — SCHWARTZ & HENDERSON, 1988: 150 (part) Mabuya mabouya mabouya — SCHWARTZ & HENDERSON, 1991: 457 (part) Mabuya bistriata — POWELL et al., 1996: 82 (part) Mabuya bistriata — MALHOTRA & THORPE, 1999: 34 (part) Mabuya sloanii — MAYER & LAZELL, 2000: 883 (part) Mabuya mabouya — BREUIL, 2002: 267 (part) Mabuya mabouya — HENDERSON & POWELL, 2009: 292 (part) Capitellum metallicum — HEDGES & CONN 2012: 64 |
| Distribution | Martinique Type locality: Martinique |
| Reproduction | |
| Types | Lectotype: MNHN-RA 5424, designated by HEDGES & CONN 2012, adult female. Only known from the type specimen |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus). Species in this genus are characterized by (1) frontoparietals, two, (2) supraciliaries, 5–6, (3) supraoculars, four, (4) prefrontal contact, absent, (5) parietal contact, present (except in C. parvicruzae sp. nov.), (6) rows of nuchals, one, (7) dorsals + ventrals, 125–128, (8) total digital lamellae, 167–190, (9) a dark middorsal stripe, absent, (10) dark dorsolateral stripes, absent, (11) a dark lateral stripe, present, and (12) dark ventral striping, absent. Maximum body sizes among species in this genus range from 68–78 mm SVL (Table 2). They are small- headed (head length 15–16% SVL; head length in mabuyines is typically 17–21% SVL). This genus differs from others in having a combination of small hands, small feet, short heads, and lacking dark dorsolateral stripes. It differs from Alinea, Copeoglossum, Mabuya, Notomabuya, Panopa, Psychosaura, and Varzea in having fewer total digital lamellae (< 191). It differs from Manciola in having more total lamellae (> 166), fewer dorsals + ventrals (125–128 versus 136–141), and five or six (versus four) supraciliaries. From Exila, Notomabuya, and Panopa, it differs in having two frontoparietals (versus one fused frontoparietal in those other genera). In having four supraoculars, Capitellum is separated from two genera with three supraoculars: Aspronema (rarely four) and Mabuya (rarely two or four). The presence of a single nuchal row separates this genus from Exila, Panopa, and Spondylurus. The presence of contact between the parietals (except in C. parvicruzae sp. nov.) separates this genus from Copeoglossum. It differs from Alinea by having fewer finger-IV + toe-IV lamellae (24– 26 versus 28–36), having dark lateral stripes (present as a trace in only one species of Alinea, A. berengerae), and lacking ventral striping. It is distinguished from Manciola, Maracaiba, and Marisora by its 5–6 supraciliaries (versus four in nearly all Marisora). It shares with Brasiliscincus small hands and feet but differs in lacking dark dorsolateral stripes (present in most Brasiliscincus), having dark (versus pale) palms and soles, and having more dorsals + ventrals (125–128 versus 113–124). From Orosaura, it is distinguished by lacking a dark dorsolateral stripe. Eyelid window size (length 2.21–2.42% SVL) is also relatively large for the genus, where most other species fall within the range 1.5–2.0% SVL. However, we did not score that character in all individuals and species [HEDGES & CONN 2012]. |
| Comment | Type species: Mabuya metallica Bocourt, 1879:400 is the type species of the genus Capitellum HEDGES & CONN 2012. Conservation: Each species of the genus Capitellum is represented by a single adult specimen collected 135–190 years ago. They occur on islands where the mongoose was introduced in the late 19th century, likely explaining their subsequent disappearance. Based on IUCN Redlist criteria (IUCN 2011), Capitellum metallicum may be considered “Critically Endangered” and possibly extinct (CR A2ace). Abundance: only known from its original description (Meiri et al. 2017). |
| Etymology | Named after the feminine adjective referring to the coppery, metallic color of the preserved specimens described by Bocourt (1879). Etymology (genus). The generic name (Capitellum) is a neuter singular noun (Latin) meaning "small head," in reference to the relatively small heads of the three included species. |
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