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''Ablepharus'' is a genus of skinks that contains the common snake-eyed skinks. Their name refers to the fact that their eyelids have fused to a translucent capsule; as in snakes, they thus are physically incapable of blinking.〔( Orbital Lubrication Hypothesis ) at the (Canadian Journal of Zoology )〕 They resemble small lizards and prefer to live in the leaf litter of dry fields and hills.〔( Ablepharus kitaibelii ) at the (IUCN Red List )〕 Their scales give them a very shiny, bronze appearance with a characteristically dark stripe down the sides of their bodies. They prey on small insects and other small mollusks.〔(Snake-eyed Skink ) at the (Wildlife Archipelago )〕 ==General Characteristics== ''Appearance'' :The scales on all Ablepharus species are shiny and bronze in appearance. There is also a very characteristic bronze stripe that runs along the length of their bodies. They have short, weak arms which contributes to the fact that they move in a very serpentine-like manner. In general, females are longer and weigh more than their male counterparts. They also have thick tails relative to their body sizes and lengths.〔 Fully mature Ablepharus species can reach up to 15 cm in length. On average, both males and females reach up to about an average of 13 cm in length.〔(European Copper Skink ) at the (INaturalist )〕 ''Mannerisms and Habitat'' :As a whole, Ablepharus skinks are generally shy creatures. They tend to bask in the sunlight during the daytime and become more active as dusk and darkness approaches.〔 They make their homes in rocky areas with leaf litter and little soil.〔( Ablepharus Microhabitat ) at the (Springer Link )〕 ''Geographic Distribution'' :The geographic range of the common snake-eyed skink spans from southern European countries to northern African countries; there are also some species native to southeast Asia.〔 While most of the species in the genus Ablepharus prefer remaining low to the ground and in drier environments, some species may be found in damper habitats up to 2,000 meters above sea level.〔 ''Diet'' :Analysis of the stomach contents of certain Ablepharus species has led to the conclusion that common snake-eyed skinks are typically generalist predators.〔 They mainly feed on small arthropods, mollusks, and small snails.〔 ''Life Span and Life Cycle'' :In captivity, the common snake-eyed skinks are known to survive up to 3 and a half years; in the wilderness, where they are preyed upon, they life up to about 2 and a half years.〔 Upon reaching reproductive maturity, the female snake-eyed skink will lay between two and four eggs at a time; these eggs will then take at least 9 weeks to develop to the point when they can hatch. Hatchlings typically measure around three-and-a-half centimeters long. It takes about two years in order for the hatchlings to reach reproductive maturity, and then the life cycle continues.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ablepharus」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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