| Green Green-blooded Skink | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Sauria |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Prasinohaema |
| Species: | P. virens |
| Binomial name | |
| Prasinohaema virens |
|
The Green Green-blooded skink (Prasinohaema virens), sometimes (ambiguously) known as "green tree skink", is a scincid lizard species[1] native to New Guinea. The species is poorly studied[2] and the species' risk of extinction has not been evaluated by the World Conservation Union, and does not appear in any CITES appendix.
The skink has developed setae on its toepads (or digit pads) for climbing analogous to those of geckos and anoles, but the trait is believed to have evolved independently to these groups, and so is an example of convergent evolution. With regards to the trait, other species in the genus, P. flavipes and P. prehensicauda have the primitive character, and lack the setae.[3] Other skinks within the genus Lipinia have also evolved toepad setae, and within the skink family four morphologically distinct adhesive microstructures have evolved, possibly all with independent evolutionary origins. By contrast, anoles and geckos each use a single, common structure, although it appears to have evolved independently in the two groups.[2]
As in other lizards of the genera Prasinohaema, the blood of P. virens is green, rather than the usual red coloration of most vertebrates. The green blood pigmentation results in a strikingly bright lime-green coloration of muscles, bones, tongue, and mucosal tissue. This coloration of the blood is the result of the accumulation of the bile pigment biliverdin in levels that would be toxic in all other vertebrates.[2] Biliverdin is a compound that is formed from the breakdown of hemoglobin, and is normally converted to bilirubin. However, it is believed that mutation in various genes regulating bilirubin formation lead to the formation and accumulation of high levels of biliverdin.[4]
In Australia, its import is prohibited under State and Territory legislation because its risk as an invasive species has not yet been assessed.[5] However, live specimens may be imported with a permit issued under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for non-commercial purpose such as research, but not as a household pet.[6]
Data related to Prasinohaema virens at Wikispecies
