Brachymeles cebuensis is a unique species in the genus in being one of only two species to have unequal numbers of fingers and toes. The species has three fingers and two toes. The only other species with unequal digit numbers is B. pathfinderi. B. cebuensis is known only from a single municipality on Cebu Island in the Philippines. Although recent observations have been made of this species, little is known of its true range or life history. The genus Brachymeles represents a unique group of semi-burrowing (semi-fossorial) lizards in that the group possesses species with a full spectrum of body forms, from limbed species with five fingers and five toes, to fully limbless species. Researchers are interested in the process and patterns behind the evolution of these drastic changes in body form. With the exception of two species from Borneo (B. apus) and Thailand (B. miriamae), all species of Brachymeles are endemic to the Philippines. This means they are found among the more than 7,000 Philippine islands and nowhere else in the world.
We have evaluated this species against the IUCN criteria for classification, and find that it qualifies for the status of Vulnerable, VU, based on the following criteria: VU B2ab(iii); D2 (IUCN, 2010).
Brachymeles cebuensis can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body size small (SVL 51.5–67.9 mm); (2) limbs with 3 fingers and 2 toes; (3) limb length small; (4) supralabials six; (5) infralabials six or seven; (6) suparciliaries six; (7) supraoculars five; (8) midbody scale rows 22–24; (9) axilla–groin scale rows 65–69; (10) paravertebral scale rows 84–88; (11) pineal eye spot present; (12) prefrontals contacting or not contacting on midline; (13) frontoparietals contacting on midline; (14) mental/1st infralabial fusion absent; (15) postnasals absent; (16) enlarged chin shields in three pairs; (17) nuchal scales differentiated; (18) auricular opening absent; and (19) presacral vertebrae 45.
The name was chosen for the island on which the species was first discovered (Cebu Island).
Brachymeles cebuensis is recognized to occur in the Visayan (Central) Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex.
Brachymeles cebuensis looks most similar to B. samarensis.
SVL 51.5–67.9 mm
Cebu Island has experienced near complete deforestation. Although this species has recently been observed in the rotting stumps of trees remaining in agricultural fields, the continued destruction of this species habitat may eventually threaten its survival.
Rabor's short-legged skink (Brachymeles cebuensis) is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines.[2]
Rabor's short-legged skink (Brachymeles cebuensis) is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines.
