[Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti (Kohler,1997)]
Description:
Size: Larger size than the common monkey skink (Corucia zebrata zebrata).
Average LOA = 690mm (27"), SVL = 335mm (13").
Scalation:
Head Scalation: As based on Kohler, North Solomon monkey skinks possess seven parietal scales. The arrangement has, from left to right-head facing observer, parietal scale one and two smaller and more cramped in width than comparable parietal scales in the common monkey skink (width/length ratio: parietal scale one = 4/6, parietal scale two = 13/25). Parietal scale three is smaller in length and width (width/length ratio = 13/16) than comparable scale in Corucia zebrata zebrata (pointed towards the rear of the skull). Parietal scale four is centralized and elongated with a bottleneck appearance near vertical center (narrowest point width/length ratio = 2/19, total width variation ratio = 4/17,). However, the original description of the holotype and paratypes has no mention of parietal scale four ever pinched-off completely rather than bottlenecked. The illustration in Salamandrae gives the impression that the bottleneck configuration is standard. Head scales actually vary in size and shape as much as the black pigment spots on the body. In common observation, most specimens of Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti have the pinced-off version. Parietal scale five is just right of center rather than at the dextral edge as in the common monkey skink
(width/length ratio = 13/17). Parietal scale five is also more symmetrical in shape and squarer than parietal scale five in the common monkey skink. Parietal scale six (not found in Corucia zebrata zebrata) is comparable in size and shape to parietal scale three (width/length ratio = 12/17). Parietel scale seven (not found in Corucia zebrata zebrata) is elongated and more pointed to the front of the skull (width/length ratio = 7/12). Parietal scale seven is at the dextral edge of the head. Prefrontal scalation varies from two to four compared to two-three in the common monkey skink. In summation, head scales are not the best indicator of Corucia
subspecies classification. It takes a trained eye and much close up viewing to get an accurate determination. The unwavering criteria to utilize is that Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti has 2 more parietals (six and seven) than with Corucia zebrata zebrata.
Body Scalation: North Solomon monkey skinks have been described as having larger ventral and dorsal scales than the common monkey skink (Kohler,1997). The scales are larger in general due to the larger ultimate size of this subspecies of Corucia. However, in a ratio comparison of width/length, there is a difference as noted in the common monkey skink section. LCRC research data shows that in a width/length ratio of dorsal scales, North Solomon monkey skinks have a ratio of 6/9. Common monkey skinks have a ratio of 4/9. The ventral width/length ratio is 1/2 for the Northern Solomon monkey skink and 3/7 for the common monkey skink.
Eyes: Sclera: As noted earlier, Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti has a black sclera and Corucia zebrata zebrata has a white sclera. This is unvaried. Iris: The iris color of Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti does not seem to vary as much as in Corucia zebrata zebrata. The color is almost always a green-yellow mix - at least in Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti from Bougainville. However, Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti from Buka appear to have a more intense green iris. Besides the striking head color and larger ultimate size, the eyes of Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti are another very prominent and stunning attribute of this subspecies. The yellow-green iris coloration surrounded by the black sclera makes this so.
Body Coloration: The top of the head in the North Solomon Monkey skink is a striking turquoise often suffused with yellow. This concurs with the holotype description by Kohler. Most of the yellow is prominent in the throat and chin region but may occur on top of the head as well in several areas including the region around the ear openings. There has not been observed in Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti, a yellow spotted individual in the tail region like the LCRC / Czz /34 specimen. From imports of highly questionable legal passage but traced and personally seen, it appears that North Solomon Corucia that hail from Buka differ from the main pennisula contingent in that the Buka contingent of Corucia shows a light brownish component overlaying the bright turquoise on the head. In addition, as mentioned, the iris is an intense green. Otherwise, all other aspects of Buka Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti are germane to that of Bougainville Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti. It would appear, that the Buka Corucia are a polytypic variant but would not constitute a separate subspecies classification.
As with the common monkey skink, North Solomon monkey skinks are found with and without banding. The banded individuals have central bands that slope at a 50 degree angle. Common monkey skinks have a 0 - 20 degree angle to the transverse torso of the body. This has also been noted by Burt Langerwerf of Agama International. The bands on the North Solomon monkey skinks are a consistent light brown whereas common monkey skinks are darker brown to black. The lighter brown banding in contrast to the aqua bands gives a more faded appearance to the North Solomon subspecies compared to the common subspecies. Blotched North Solomon individuals are occasionally encountered. Both banded and unbanded North Solomon monkey skinks may have black spots. Northern Solomon monkey skinks have the light brown tone mentioned in the bands often intermixed with the aqua of the body. Common monkey skinks often
have a brown wash with the green/aqua color of the body but the brown is usually darker. All North Solomon monkey skinks have a distinctive yellowish-cream color to the nasal and rostral scales in contrast to a darker color in common monkey skinks as noted in the common monkey skink section.
The cream color of these scales also shows a significant contrast to the turquoise color of the head of the North Solomon subspecies.
Kohler lists the holotype of Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti as holotypes SMF 77587 with locus typicus being the island of Bougainville (Mekamuri or North Solomons). The Holotype resides in the Senckenberg Museum, Frankfort Germany (Museum Franfort Senckenberg an lage 25 60325 Frankfort am main D. Germany tel +49 06917542-0 fax ++90691746238). The holotype is described as being an adult Male.
The Paratype of Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti is listed as MTKD - 39481. The paratype resides in the Staatiches Museum Fur tierkunole Augustus strasse 2 Dresden Germany. The Paratype is described as being unknown in gender.
The Leeway Corucia Research Center (LCRC) Studbook classification system is as follows:
LCRC / Czz / 34
LCRC = Corucia Research Center of individual
Czz = Subspecies classification Czz = Corucia zebrata zebrata
Cza = Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti
34 = Individual number at research center
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