Apothekerskink
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Apothekerskink ( Scincus scincus ) |
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| Scincus scincus | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The apothecary's kink ( Scincus scincus ) (also, partly colloquial or out of date: Stinzeidechse, Lacerta Stincus, Stincus marinus, Meerstinz, Stinke-Marie) is a lizard and belongs to the family of the Skinke (Scincidae).
It is named after the medicinal properties that the lizard was ascribed to in antiquity against various diseases and ailments. The lizard was pulverized or burned to ashes and sold in pharmacies. The Arabs used the powder as an aphrodisiac . This use was also widespread in Europe until the 19th century. In ancient Egypt , the lizard was embalmed and placed in the graves of the mummies as grave goods.
Occurrence
Apothecary kinks are found in North Africa and Saudi Arabia , where they inhabit deserts such as the Sahara .
Way of life
Because of its type of locomotion, which is similar to swimming a fish in the water, the Apothekerkink was given the nickname sandfish (see, however, the disambiguation page ). Its habitat is the fine desert sand in which the lizard burrows itself at high temperatures or when fleeing from enemies such as the desert monitor or the diademed snake. The apothecary kink often lies in wait for its prey under the surface of the sand and jumps out when it is shaken by a potential prey.
features
Apothecary paws reach a size of about 20 centimeters. They have very smooth scales, in the interstices of which no grains of sand can penetrate and which reduce the friction when “swimming” in the sand ( sand fish effect ). In addition, the skin of the lizards has a very high resistance to friction. The eyes and nostrils can be closed. Apothecary paws are excellently camouflaged in the sand due to their reddish-yellow to brownish-yellow color. Their muzzle is flattened in a wedge shape. In addition, the animals have fringed scales between their "toes" (similar to the European fringed finger ), which make digging easier and with which they can find a better grip. Both of these allow them to dive into the sand very quickly.
nutrition
Apothecary kinks feed on beetles, spiders and grasshoppers, among other things.
Reproduction
To mate, the male sits on the back of the female and bites its neck. With its tail it pushes the tail of the female upwards and brings its cloaca to that of the female. The pairing takes place in motion and can last from a few seconds to three minutes. Sandfish are often described in German literature as viviparous , but if kept in a terrarium they lay 2–10 eggs in the sand a few weeks after mating.
Individual evidence
- ^ Samuel Hahnemann: Apothekerlexikon. 2nd department, 2nd part, Leipzig (1799), pp. 284–285. online: [1]
- ^ Georg Friedrich Most: Encyclopedia of the entire folk medicine, Leipzig: Brockhaus (1843). online: [2]
- ↑ see Hahnemann and Most
