- Blotched Forest Skink (Sphenomorphus praesignis )
Sabah Slender Skink
courtesy to : www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/sabah_slender_skink.htm
Blotched Forest Skink
courtesy to : www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/blotched_forest_skink.htm
Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Sphenomorphus praesignis
Size (snout to vent) : 11 cm
Size (total length) : 25 cm
The Blotched Forest Skink is a shy, elusive species of montane rainforests. By day it may be found searching amongst leaf litter and forest floor debris, but it is quick to flee and into crevices or burrows if disturbed.
Dorsally it is dark brown, reddish brown or dark olive-green, and the flanks are mottled. Along the anterior art of the flanks are two or three distinctive, dark blotches. The ventral surface is more pale, sometimes pale yellow. The snout is short, the eyes relatively large, and the lips mottled.
This is an uncommon to rare species, with a distribution limited to forested mountain areas with elevations of over 800 metres in Southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.
Fig 1 : This specimen from Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia (elevation = 1100 metres) lives inside the hollow trunk of a fallen tree, emerging by day to warm itself in the weak sunlight penetrating the forest canopy.
Fig 2 : Sheltering in a disused burrow this adult specimen has an estimated total length of 20 cm. Found at Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia at an elevation of 1300 metres.
Fig 3 : Specimen found resting at night 5 metres up a tree. Found at Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia at an elevation of 1300 metres.
Video:
Sphenomorphus praesignis (22Jun2014a)
Sphenomorphus praesignis (22Jun2014b)
Other Websites :
- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Sphenomorphus&species=praesignis
- www.inaturalist.org/taxa/Sphenomorphus_praesignis
- Sabah Slender Skink ( Sphenomorphus sabanus )
Other Websites :
- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Sphenomorphus&species=sabanus
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphenomorphus_sabanus
- www.natureswindow.dk/Sphenomorphus_sabanus.html
- phylodiversity.net/bb07/students/ruchira/species_accounts/sphenomorphus_sabanus.html
Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Sphenomorphus sabanus
Size (snout to vent) : 5 cm
Size (total length) : 13 cm
This colourful species of skink occurs in damp, lowland rainforest up to elevations of 850 metres. It is diurnal and mainly arboreal : typically it is encountered clinging to the huge buttress roots of various species of dipterocarp. The species also inhabits leaf litter, where it is less likely to be observed.
In the gloom of the forest floor this lizard appears quite dull in colour, but under sunlight or flash photography complex patterning and colouration is revealed. Body colours include yellowish-orange and various shades of brown, with a faint bluish or purplish tinge. Its tail has vague thin, pale banding.
Its body is thickset and its tail moderately thick at the base : the tail is under twice the length of the body. Its lips are adorned with black and white barring of approximately equal thickness. Its eyes are large.
The species feeds on various insects such as beetles, grasshoppers and moths.
The Sabah Slender Skink occurs only on the island of Borneo : in some parts of lowland Sabah (northeast Borneo) it appears to be locally abundant.
Figs 1 and 2 : Two specimens found on the buttressed trunks of huge dipterocarp trees.
Fig 3 : Specimen found active amongst mossy logs on the forest floor.
All photos from Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo
- Spotted Forest Skink ( Sphenomorphus scotophilus )
Spotted Forest Skink :
courtesy to : www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/spotted_forest_skink.htm
Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Sphenomorphus scotophilus
Size (snout to vent) : 6 cm
Size (total length) : 14 cm
The Spotted Forest Skink is an elusive lizard of primary or disturbed secondary forests to elevations of around 1000 metres.
The species is considered uncommon, however the reality may be that its small size, camouflage and secretive habits simply make it hard to find. It is typically seen on shady, moss-covered rock outcrops, as well as adjacent tree trunks.
The body and tail are slender, and the forelimbs and hindlimbs are equally long and slender. The background colour is medium brown, and the dorsum and flanks are patterned with cream and dark brown spots. The throat and belly are pale. The eye is of typical shape for a Sphenomorphus skink. The eyelids are pale, and the lower eyelid scaly. The lips are pale, flecked with dark spots.
The species ranges from southern Thailand, through Peninsular Malaysia, including Pulau Tioman, to possibly Sumatra. It has not been recorded from Singapore.
Fig 1 : This specimen was seen foraging on moss-covered boulders at Penang Hill, Pulau Pinang, Peninsular Malaysia.
Fig 2 : Specimen from Sungei Bantang, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia, displaying the shyness which is typical of the species.
Fig 3 : The specimen in Figure 2 took shelter in the mossy growth on the left of this boulder.
Fig 4 : Specimen with damaged tail consuming a wasp or other winged insect. Seen at Penang Hill, Pulau Pinang, Peninsular Malaysia.
Other websites :
- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Sphenomorphus&species=scotophilus
- www.thainationalparks.com/species/sphenomorphus-scotophilus
- www.inaturalist.org/taxa/37499-Sphenomorphus-scotophilus
- Flores Banded Skink' ( Sphenomorphus striolatus) :
'Flores Banded Skink'
courtesy to : www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/flores-banded-skink.htm
Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Sphenomorphus striolatus
Size (snout to vent) : 5 cm
Size (total length) : 12.4 cm
Sphenomorphus striolatus was first described in 1890 by Weber (as Lygosoma striolatum), yet after more than a century it still lacks a common name, so it is informally named 'Flores Banded Skink' here. The type specimen of S. striolatus is from Reo, Mangarrai District, western Flores, Indonesia some 70 km east of Labuanbajo.
The species ranges from lowlands to around 1200 metres elevation and subsists on beetle larvae, ants, spiders and small scorpions.
The specimen illustrated here was found on a hot, sunny afternoon amongst dry leaf litter, in coastal, secondary scrub forest at Labuanbajo, western Flores. The specimen appears to be a fully grown adult. It shares many features which fit the description of S. striolatus in de Rooij (1915) and Auffenberg (1980).
The dorsal colour of this specimen is a rich bronze colour with a metallic sheen, becoming reddish around the shoulders. Vague, mottled dark bands traverse the back and extend some way onto the flank. The legs and tail are mottled black and gold. The digits on the hind feet are long and laterally compressed.
The snout is relatively short and blunt, and a dark stripe extends from the snout to the eye. Behind the eye another broken, dark stripe extends to the shoulder.
The belly and throat are pale and the labial scales above and below the mouth are white with dark edges.
The 'Flores Banded Skink' occurs on some islands of the Lesser Sundas (Nusa Tenggara) of Indonesia, namely Komodo, Rinja, Flores and Damma. Flores is by far the largest island amongst this group.
Fig 1 : Specimen from Labuanbajo, western Flores exhibiting many features of S. striolatus.
Fig 2 : Close-up of the head, showing the scalation, the short, blunt snout and white labials.
Fig 3 : Close up of the hind-leg, foot and long, compressed digits.
References :
Auffenberg, W. 1980. The Herpetofauna of Komodo with notes on adjacent areas. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences. Vol 25, No.2.
de Rooij, N., 1915. The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago, I Lacertilia, Chelonia, Emydosauria. E.J. Brill Ltd. Leiden. xiv + 382 pp.
Fig 4 : Close-up of the base of the tail, mottled in gold and black.
TYTTHOSCINCUS is a group of small, leaf litter-dwelling skinks, some which are swamp specialists. These shy, elusive lizards, are rarely noticed : when disturbed they sometimes seek escape by swimming across small streams and partly submerging themselves. They are closely related to Sphenomorphus skinks and, as of 2016, there are 17 species recognised. Examples :
Species :
Other Websites :
- reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Sphenomorphus&species=striolatus
- fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphenomorphus_striolatus
- www.inaturalist.org/taxa/Sphenomorphus_striolatus
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Type Tytthoscincus aesculeticola
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Type Tytthoscincus atrigularis
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Type Tytthoscincus biparietalis
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Type Tytthoscincus hallieri
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Type Tytthoscincus parvus
- 'Sulawesi Forest Skink' ( Tytthoscincus sp. )
Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Tytthoscincus sp.
Size (snout to vent) : this specimen 3 cm
Size (total length) : this specimen 5.5 cm
This tiny Tytthoscincus skink, measuring just 3 cm from snout to vent and 5.5 cm in total length, was found amongst the leaf litter of the peripheral forests of the Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
A number of specimens were observed, active around noon on a hot and sunny but dry day. All specimens were of similar size. The skinks were extremely shy, and quick to hide under leaf litter when disturbed.
Colouration is mainly dark brown, with lighter brown flecks along the dorsum and flanks, and a pale brown band across the neck. The underside is paler. The eyes are relatively large, and the legs short.
The species has yet to be identified and its range is unknown.
Figs 1 and 2 : Tytthoscincus sp. from lowland forest of northern Sulawesi, Indonesia.
- Swamp Skink (Singapore) ( Tytthoscincus cf. sibuensis ) :
- Swamp Skink (Singapore)
courtesy to : www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/malayan-swamp-skink.htm
Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Tytthoscincus cf. sibuensis
Size (snout to vent) : ~ 3 cm
Size (total length) : ~ 6 cm
This small, highly elusive skink from Singapore, is generally encountered next to shallow streams. It favours freshwater swamp forest habitat, and it is likely that it spends much of its time hidden beneath leaf litter and is only discovered when accidentally disturbed. It is a strong swimmer, and readily takes to the water to flee from any threat.
Measuring an estimated 3 cm snout-to-vent, and around 6 cm total length, this species has yet to be scientifically named or described in any detail.
Little is known of its ecology, but there is a record of the species having been predated by aBig-eye Green Whip Snake Ahaetulla mycterizans.
This skink may be the same species as Tytthoscincus sibuensis (Sibu Island Forest Skink) which occurs on the island of Pulau Sibu, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia, however further study is needed to confirm whether this is the case.
Fig 1 : Swamp Skink partly immersed in a shallow stream filled with leaf-litter : the eyes and nostrils are above the water surface.
Figs 4 and 5 : Juvenile specimen, with head-body length of less than 2 cm.
All photos from Singapore.
Fig 3 : Side view of the same specimen : note the tiny limbs and feet which are typical of the genus.
Fig 2 : Microhabitat of the specimen above - a clear, shallow stream in a localized area of freshwater swamp.
Reference :
Grismer, L., Muin, M. A., Wood, P. L. Jr. & Anuar, S. (2016). The transfer of two clades of Malaysian SphenomorphusFitzinger (Squamata: Scincidae) into the genus Tytthoscincus Linkem, Diesmos, & Brown and the description of a new Malaysian swamp-dwelling species. Zootaxa, 4092(2), 231-242.
Please select or follow below :
SKINKS SPECIES : Blue - tongued skinks : Part 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Five - Lined Skinks : Part 1 - 2
Other Skinks : ASIAN & AFRICAN skinks : Part 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Other Skinks American Part : 1 - 2 - 3
Other Skinks Australian Part : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Please select or follow below :
SKINKS SPECIES : Blue - tongued skinks : Part 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Five - Lined Skinks : Part 1 - 2
Other Skinks : ASIAN & AFRICAN skinks : Part 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Other Skinks American Part : 1 - 2 - 3
Other Skinks Australian Part : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14