Vol. 8, pp. 69-74

Asiatic Herpetological Research

1999

Distribution and Natural History of the Lidless Skinks, Asymblepharus alaicus

and Ablepharus deserti (Sauria: Scincidae) in the Aksu-Djabagly Nature
Reserve (Western Tian-Shan Mountains), Kazakstan
Vladimir Kolbintzev

1,

Larissa Miroschnichenko

2,

and Tatjana Dujsebayeva 2

Aksu-Djabagly Nature Resene. Tjulkubas Region. South Kazakstan District 487964. Kazakstan: Departmentof Biology, Kazak State University. Al-Farabi Pr. 71, Almaty 480078. Kazakstan
Abstract.- The data of 8 years observations on two species of the Lidless Skinks, Asymblepharus alaicus andAblepharus deserti from the Aksu-Djabagly Nature Reserve (Western Tian-Shan Mountains) are analysed withspecial attention to geographical distribution and to some aspects of the natural history of these lizards. It is notedthat in spite of altitude contiguity thetwo species form few sympatric zones with low population density. Bothspecies have prolongated seasonal activity, ranging from March- April to October-November. The appearance ofthe skinks after winter hibernation, their activity and the beginning of breeding season depend on climaticconditions, slope exposition and altitude of the site.

Key words.- Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae, Asymblepharus alaicus, Ablepharus deserti, Kazakstan, distribution,
activity, breeding.

Introduction
The Aksu-Djabagly Reserve is one of the unique natural

reserves of Kazakstan. Its flora and fauna are of anumber ofgreat interest because of the presence aendemic and localized species, as well as of species

was cleared only recently after detailed revision by
Eremchenko and Shzherbak (Eremchenko, 1981;
Eremchenko a. Shzherbak, 1986) who separated thegenus Asymblepharus and suggested an independent
evolution for the two lineages of ablepharid lizards.
Data on morphology and biology of the Alpine andadapted to extreme environmental conditions. The
Aksu-Djabagly Reserve occupies the western part of

the Desert Lidless Skinks are not numerous and scat-

Range in the Western Tian-Shan
Mountains between 1100-4200 m s. 1. Permanentsnow level is at about 3000 m. The climate is very

nikov et al., 1977: Bogdanov, 1960; 1965; Bruschko,
1995; Said-Aliyev, 1979; Shammakov, 1981: Shnitni-

the Talas Alatau

continental with an average monthly temperature of 4.9 C tor the coldest month (January) and of +21.6 C
for the hottest

month (July). Four basic

altitudinalzones are present in the Reserve (Karmisheva, 1973:
Kovschar, Ivashzhenko, 1990). These are mountain

tered through a number of works (Atayev, 1985; Ban-

kov,

plant

association; the steppe

and alpine high mountain meadows.The relatively
small territory of the Aksu-Djabagly Reserve (7400 h)
isinhabited by many species typical for the zoogeo-

graphical provinces of the Europe, North Africa andMiddle Asia. Among reptiles (total number 10 species) there are two species of the skinks,

the Alpine

Lidless Skink (Asymblepharus alaicus) and the Desert
Lidless Skink (Ablepharus deserti). The first species

widespreaded in the Reserve, the other israre species of the region(Fig. 1) is.

Asymblepharus alaicus and Ablepharus deserti are

Chernov, 1949; Yakovleva,contains all known data on the morphology, distribu-

and biology of the ablepharid lizards of theformer USSR.

tion

The distribution and biology of two skink species
poorly studied. The present paper deals

meadows, with

scattered tree-like Juniperus forests; subalpine zone

a.

The

monograph by Eremchenko andShzherbak (1986) deservs special attention because it

foothill zone with a low mountain dry steppe and xerofitic

1929; Terentjev

1964).

remains

mainly with the distribution of the Alpine and theDesert Lidless Skinks in the Aksu-Djabagly Nature

Reserve and presents data on their natural history.

Material and Methods
Field observations together with the description oflive and museum material carryed out on Asymble-

pharus alaicus and Ablepharus deserti over a periodof 8 years (1988-1996) and surved as a basis for thepresent paper. We observed and collected skinks from22

localitiesof the Aksu-Djabagly Nature Reserveof an interest from few points. The taxonomic posi-(Fig. 2). We identifyied the species in the field basing

Asymblepharus alaicus and Ablepharus desertion their external morphology and altitude distribution.

tionVol. 8, p. 70

Figure 1.

Asiatic Herpetological Research

1999

The map of the localities of the Lidless Skink in the Aksu-Djabagly Nature Reserve (Western Tian-Shan

Mountains). Asymblepharus alaicus and Ablepharus deserti have independent enumeration: open circles represent the localities of Asymblepharus alaicus, closed circles represent the localities of Ablepharus deserti. Asym-

blepharus alaicus: 1) Chuuldak (2000 m); 2) Minzhilky Ravine (2600 m); 3) Kshy-Kaindy Pass (2200 m); 4) KshyKaindy Ravine (1850 m); 5) Ulken-Kaindy Pass (2900 m); 6) Ulken-Kaindy Ravine (2000 m); 7) Kaskabulak (26003300m); 8) Aksay Pass (2900 m); 9) the Upper of the Djabagly River (3000 m); 10) Kizolgenkol Lake (2200 m); 1 1)
the upper of the Middle Karasay River (3000-3100 m); 12) Low Karasay Ravine (3000-3100 m); 13) south-western

slope of Kokseky Ravine (3100-3200 m); 14) eastern slope of the Aksay Ravine (2600 m). Ablepharus deserti: 1)
western mountain foothill of theTalas Alatau Range (1300 m); 2)Taldibulak Ravine (1100 m); 3) northern mountain foothills of theTalas Alatau Range near Djabagly Village (1200m); 4) Djabaglitau Range (1300 m); 5) valley

between Aksu and Baldabrek Rivers near the Kizilblek Village (1400m); 6) eastern slope of the Baldabrek Ravine(1600 m); 7) mountain foothills near the Ergaly Ravine (1200 m).

%

Additionaly we used museum material fixed in 10
neutralized formalin and preserved in 70 ethanol. The
confirmationof species

identificationeyes (see Eremchenko a. Shzherbak, 1986).

We also described character of the skink habitats
together with plant composition and visually classified the dominant substrate of the sites. Altitudes andslope exposition were also taken into consideration.
All colonlected and museum specimens were mea-(

mm according to Eremchenko and Shzherbak

1986); their life history stages were recorded as juve-

nile, subadult, adult. All theuges over certain small square areas.

was mainly

based on the peculiarities of the scalation around thesured ina transect and by turning over stones which were ref-skinks captured for thepresent study were returned to the sampling sites.

Skink populaton density inferred by counting thenumbers of lizards active on the ground surface along

Results and Discussion
Distribution, habitats and density of the populations-Figure 2 shows 22 localities of two species examined.
All the records (including museum material) weremade by the authors themselves.
Aksu-Djabagly Nature Reserve the Alpine
Skink mostly inhabits the subalpine andalpine zones between 2500-3000 m where the density
In theLidlessof the lizards

ishighest, particularly just on passes

and on mountain ridges. For example, on 5 August1988

we recorded 47 specimens of Asymblepharus

alaicus along the main ridge of the Kazanchukur
and overRange (3100 m) over an area of 50 x 50

mturning more than 150 stones. During a sunny midday

1999

Asiatic Herpetological ResearchVol. 8, p. 71

Fig. 3. Subalpic

meadow at 3000 m of altitude is a typi-

cal locality of Asymblepharus alaicus in the Aksu-Dja-

bagly Reserve.
Fig. 2. Asymblepharus alaicus.

in July

1995 we observed 16 adult specimens in an

m in the course of half of hour on thearea of 200 x 30

Ulken-Kaindy Pass (2900 m). Transect accounting on
the way down to 2400
revealed 8 specimens over anmin area of 40 x

4 m. Using secondary ranges and lat-

main ridge the skinks can comedown to a slope as low as 1500 m (extremely rare to1200 m) where they have very low population density.
eral splinters of theTheof Asymblepharus alaicus in the

habitats

Aksu-Djabagly

There are alpine

are very variable.

meadows scattered with stones (Fig. 3), rocky slopes
with Juniperus brush (Fig. 4) and scree slopes. Thereispractically no Alpine Lidless Skink in sparse Juni-

perus forests. A combination of the slopes with different exposition

is

the

first

important condition for

Asymblepharus habitats because of the possibility ofusing them during different times of the day. The second essential condition is in the presence of suitablerefuges represented by bushes, screes or stone rubbles.

Typical habitats for the Desert Lidless Skink in

Aksu-Djabagly Reserve are dry-south exposed
slopes of no more than 2000 m in altitude (Fig. 5). Asthea rule, the plant community includes Ferula plant xerofitic steppe, with bushes of Rosa,

neaster,

Spireascattered

Honeysucle, Coto-

juniper

trees

(Fig.

6).

However, the density of Ablepharus deserti population in the Reserve is not high in general. Only in rare

Fig. 4. The locality of Asymblepharus alaicus in the

Ulken-Kaindy Valley (2100 m).

cases we observed the lizards near human settlements.

The Aksu and Djabagly rivers with their banks ofsouthern and northern exposure are the natural boundaries separating the habitats of the

Alpine and theDesert Lidless Skinks in the reserve. The two species

were foundas sympatric in few areas only. Thisoccurs in the valleys of rivers flowing down a slopes

having northern exposition. In this situation around at

1200-1500 m Asymblepharus alaicus occupies, as arule, the riverbanks and Ablepharus deserti inhabits

the slopes having an eastern
(Fig.

7).

density.

and western exposition

However, both species have here very lowAsiatic Herpetological ResearchVol. 8. p. 72

Fig. 5. The locality of Ablepharus deserti in the mouth

Fig. 6. View on southern slopes of the Djabaglitau

Range (1 500 m). The locality of Ablepharus deserti isof the Djabagly River (1200 m).

inDaily and seasonal activity
that

the

appearance of the skinks after winter hibernation

depends on climatic conditions, slope exposition and.

Accordingtothese authors,theearliest

appearance of Asymblepharns alaicus in northern Kirgizstan was registrated on 26 March 1977 in the Kirgiz Range (1600 m). In the mountains bordering theeastern coast of the Issik-Kul Lake (2400 m) and on
the slopes of the San-Kul-Too Range having western

exposition (2700 m) the lizards appear by late April.
Yakovleva (1964) noted an earlier activity of males in

Our observations on the Alpine Lidless Skink in
the Aksu-Djabagly show that lizards appear after winter hibernation in mid April and, as a rule, are active
untill late October-early November. On 29 October
1992 we observed some active adult specimens on thenorthexposed slopes at 1900 m. On 1 November 1995
skinks were registrated on northern slope at 1300 m.

.

,

the locality of Asymblepharus ala-,

described
skink,by Eremchenko andShzherbak ( 1986) for the Kirgiz Range. These authors

Alpinewrote that in spring (April - first half of May) skinks

were active between 11:00-12:00 hrs and 19:00-20:00
hrs.

According to our data for summer period, theselizards appear on ground surface earlier and are active
untill

20:00-21:00 hrs. In autumn their activity shifts

to the second half of the day.

As a rule, Ablepharus deserti appears after winterhibernation

thanearlier

Asymblepharus

alaicusbecause of lower altitude of its habitats and the exclu-

comparison with females.

For southern slopes

the backgroundicus in the foreground.

Eremchenko and Shzherbak (1986) noted

altitude1999

active lizards were recorded later

Based on data of Eremchenko and Shzherbak (1986)

the last active lizards in the Kirgiz Range (up to 3000m) were registrated on 3 November 1974. It seems theskinks have very prolonged seasonal activity. According to Veventzev (1978) who studied Asymblepharus
alaicus in the Almaty Nature Reserve (Northern Tian-

Shan Mountains) some individuals were occasionallyfound active during sunny days even in January-February when small areas of ground get free of snow. On
5 August 1988 at altitude 3100
we recorded thembeginning of morning activity of the lizards about
11:00 hrs; air temperature +13C. That low tempera-

enough for primary skink activity may shedsome light on the prolonged yearly activity of the lizture beards.

sively southern slope expositions. In the Aksu-Djaba-

gly the earliest record for the beginning of Ablepharus
deserti spring activity was noted on 8 March 1989 at

1300 m. Most of the population, however, emerges

from hibernation
reportedmid March. Kaluzhina (1951)inalso inthe

Turkmenistan the Desert

Skink appears after hibernation in first half of March.

According to Yakovleva (1964), in Kirgizstan lizardsof this species come to the ground surface around mid

March Paraskiv (1956) studied the Desert Skink insouthern Kazakstan also noted the first half of Marchas the time for the beginning of lizard activity.
In the Aksu-Djabagly theDesert Lidless Skink is

active untill late October-early November. The latest

record here belongs to 3 November 1988. In otherregions of southern Kazakstan the skinks have thesameactivity

pattern(1964) for Kirgizia(Paraskiv,1956).

Yakovleva

and Said-Aliyev (1979) for Tad-jikistan reported late September-

mid October as theTheperod for winter leaving of Ablepharus deserti.

daily activity pattern of Ablepharus deserti in the
Aksu-Djabagly Reserve doesn't differ markedly fromthat of the Desert Skink previously described by otherauthors

The daily activity of the Alpine Skink from the
Aksu-Djabagly doesn't visibly differ from that of thethatfrom the surrounding

territories.

A visibly

variable daily activity of A. deserti was observed by

Bogdanov (1960) in Uzbekistan. For two months in1999

Asiatic Herpetological Research

the year (March and September) skinks are active formost of the day (from 10:00-1 1:00 hrs to 18:00-19:00
hrs),

whereas in summer they have a two-peak day

Thepeak occupies the time between
09:00 and 12:00 hrs. The second peak is between
activity.

firstVol. 8, p. 73stan) and in the northern coastal territory of the Aral

Sea.

Unfortunately, we have no data on the breeding
season or on the clutch size of Ablepharus deserti in
the Aksu-Djabagly Reserve. However, some informa-

17:00 and 19:00 hrs. In February and October theirtion

midday. A two-peakactivity is also typical for the Desert Skink from Kir-

Kazakstan are present

activity

maximalisafter thegizia (Yakovleva. 1964).

in

the

work by Bruschko

1995), who notes that the beginning of the breeding

season depends on altitude. In the Borolday

All previous authors noted that juveniles and sub-Moun-tains females with eggs at the last stage of the devel-thanopment were found from mid May to the second half

and return later to their winter ref-of June. For Northern Aral Sea region Paraskiv (1956)

adults appear after winter hibernation
adult specimens(on the breeding activity of the Desert Skink inearlierrecorded the beginning of egg-laying by A. deserti inuges.

the half of May. As Eremchenko andShzherbak (1986) wrote, in Kirgizstan the clutch size

secondBreeding
As was first observed by Shnitnikov (1928), viviparity
isa typical feature of Ablepharus (=Asymblepharus )alaicus.

AccordingtoYakovleva (1964), period of

breeding activity of Asymblepharus alaicus

in

Kir-

gizstan occupies May-June, although some specimens

copulatein

July as well. Such data contraddict to

Eremchenko and Shzherbak' (1986) who registratedof the Desert Skink varies from 1 to 5 eggs and rarely
reachsper female. Yakovleva 1964) recorded 2-8
femalefor the Kirgizstan populations. Saideggs per
1 1(

Aliyev (1979) has found 10 July 1959 one female
having 3 eggs in every oveduct, the sizes of which
varied from 9,1 x 3,2
ter.

Shammakov

mm to 11,1 x 4,1 mm in diame-( 1981 ) notes 3-5
eggs in the clutch of

Kirgizstan in lateMarch-early April. However, this contradiction could

the Desert Skink from Turkmenistan.

be a consiquence of different climatic conditions inmature in the second year (Eremchenko a. Shzherbak,

different years

According to Said-Aliyev' (1979) inthe southern regions of Tadjikistan the Alpine Skink

1986; Said-Aliyev, 1979).

copulates in late March-April, in the northern regionsin late May-first decade of June. A single female
preg-

Enemiesfrequent

copulation

lizards

in.

nant with the eggs of 8.2 x 5.1

mm; 10.2 x 5.0 mm

and 10.1 x 5.0 mm in diameter was found on 3 July
1954.

The

lizards

of bothspeciesbecomesexually

literature
data(Eremchenko a.
According to
1986
Shzherbak,
Said-Aliyev, 1979: Yakovleva,1964) and to our own observation, the Halys Pit Viper;

Agkistrodon halys,

Mountain Raser Coluber

the

Aksu-Djabagly Reserve, we have found 5

ravergieri, the Dione Snake Elaphe dione, the Steppe

gravid females on 5 August 1988 at an altitude of
3100 m. One of these delivered 3 youngs on the next

Ribbon Snake Psammophis lineolatum, the Steppe
Viper Vipera ursini and the among birds the Legger

day. Some pregnant females approaching delivery we

Pass (2900 m). On the next day the new born lizards

Grey Shrike Lanius cristatus, the Long-tailed Shrike
L. scliasch and the Rock Thrush Monticola saxalitis
are the main enemies of both the Alpine and thewere met at 1900m. Based on our own data and Yak-

Desert Skinks

two-month period ofofembryonic development
Asymblepharus alaicus
we consider mid May - mid June as a period of copu-

nants in the nests of the Black-billed

In thehave also observed 20 July 1995 at the Ulken-Kaindy

ovleva's (1964) notes over alating activity of the Alpine Skink in the Aksu-Djaba-

in nature.

We also found skink remMagpie (Picapica). Kuzmina (1970) observed the Himalayan Ruby

Throad (Calliope pectoralis) feeding on the Alpine
Skink in the Almaty Nature Reserve.

gly Reserve.

As noted by previous authors,for

Ablepharus

deserti the egg-laying period varies depending on thegeographical location of the population. In Kirgizstan.
this period occupies the first decade of June (Yakovleva, 1964). In Uzbekistan, the Desert Skink lays its
eggs after mid May. Paraskiv (1956) recorded mid

May - early June as optimal time for egg-laying by A.
deserti in the Betpak-Dala Desert (southern Kazak-

Acknowledgments
We thank to Sergey Gryasev who helped us in the collection of the animals. We are deeply grateful to Prof.
Ilya Darevskiy (Zoological Institute of Russian Acad-emy of Sciences, St-Petersburg, Russia) who commented on an early

draft

of

this

manuscript.

Our

special gratitude to Prof. Emilio Balletto (Universityof Torino, Italy) and Mrs. Bell (United Kingdom) forAsiatic Herpetological ResearchVol. 8, p. 74

their useful remarks on the manuscript and detail cor-

Kovshar,1999

A.F and A. A.
Naturerection of English.

Ivashzhenko.

Reserve.

1990.

The

80-102.

In
Aksu-Djabagly
Pp.
Sokolov, V.E., and E.E. Siroechkovskiy (eds.). Nature

Reserves of Middle Asia and Kazakstan. Misl, Mos-

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