European Copper Skink

European Copper Skink

Ablepharus kitaibelii

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Istanbul

In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%

83 Verified sightings at Istanbul
April Best month

About the European Copper Skink

Ablepharus kitaibelii, also known commonly as the European copper skink, the European snake-eyed skink, the juniper skink, and the snake-eyed skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the subfamily Eugongylinae of the family Scincidae. The species is native to Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia.

A. kitaibelii is native to Greece (including the Aegean Islands), Romania, Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, Hungary, Albania, Slovakia, the Caucasus, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and possibly Iraq. The subspecies A. k. fitzingeri is known from Slovakia, Hungary, Greece and the island of Corfu. The subspecies A. k. stepaneki is known from Bulgaria and Romania.

Also Macedonia A small, slender lizard, A. kitaibelii grows up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length (including tail). The skin is bronze-coloured, with dark sides. The eyelids are immovable, in contrast to many other skinks. A. kitaibelii is a shy species, which lives under stones and leaves in dry places, such as south slopes, fields, and meadows. It is active during twilight, and hunts for insects and small snails. It is a typical... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Izmir 🇹🇷 Turkey
~30%
2 Istanbul 🇹🇷 Turkey
~20%
3 Athens 🇬🇷 Greece
~10%
4 Budapest 🇭🇺 Hungary
~10%
5 Bucharest 🇷🇴 Romania
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Lake Tisza Ecocentre 🇭🇺 Hungary In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a European Copper Skink in Istanbul?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a European Copper Skink sighting in Istanbul on a given day, based on 83 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 5th most-seen of the 9 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a European Copper Skink in Istanbul?

April and September

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a European Copper Skink in Istanbul on a given day, against under 5% in July and December, the lowest months.

Is Istanbul the best place to see a European Copper Skink?

2nd of 5

Of the 5 cities where we can rate European Copper Skink sightings, Istanbul ranks 2nd at about 20%. The best odds are in Izmir (Turkey, about 30%).

Where does the European Copper Skink sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the European Copper Skink is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Istanbul (83 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Istanbul