Сахара құмды кесірткесі

Species of lizard

Scincus scincus, also commonly known as the sandfish skink, common sandfish or common skink, is a species of skink notable for its burrowing or swimming behaviour in sand. It is native to the Sahara Desert and the Arabian Peninsula, but is also kept as a pet elsewhere.

The name Algerian sandfish originated because of its ability to move through sand as if it were swimming. Adult common skinks usually reach about 20 cm (8 inches) in length, including the short tail. The common skink has developed a unique way of dealing with the desert heat: it can dive into loose, soft sand. This skink has a long, wedge shaped snout with a countersunk lower jaw, shaped much like a basket. Its compact, tapered body is covered with smooth, shiny scales that may appear oily to the untrained eye, and its legs are short and sturdy with long, flattened and fringed shovel like feet. The tail is short, tapering to a fine point. The coloration of this species is considered attractive, being yellow caramel with brown black cross bands. This lizard also has bead like eyes so it can close them to keep sand out of its eyes. Similarly, its nostrils are very small to keep all of the sand out of its nose and lungs. to propel itself forward. Subsequent studies of the mathematics of sandfish sand swimming, using robotic models, and electromyography show that the sandfish uses the optimum waveform to move through the sand with minimal energetic cost, given its anatomy. To further support their title as a "sand fish," these lizards are able to breathe even when completely submerged in the desert sand. They breathe the tiny pockets of air between grains of sand, and a specially formed respiratory tract catches inhaled particles before they reach the lungs. These particles are then expelled via sneezing.

Sandfish are strong and resilient, since one of the most inhospitable places to live is their home. They live comfortably in temperatures of 54 degrees Celsius (130 degrees Fahrenheit) to 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

The sandfish has around 6 or 7 morphs. The sandfish is very similar to Peters's banded skink, a less wedge nosed skink with different hands that are more similar to a blue tongue skink than a sandfish.