This was until recently one of the largest genera of any reptile group, with representatives in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, being absent only from Australia. However, DNA analysis led to the splitting off of those species not found in the New World into three new genera: Chioninia, Euprepis and Eutropis. This page retains the old classification and therefore lists all the current and former Mabuya species under that genus. It is mainly for reference and for those who are not yet familiar with the new arrangement.
I have not listed the so-called "Yellow-Lined Skink", Mabuya perspicua, as this species name was found on only one (non-academic) page (with no details) and repeated Net searches have found it nowhere else.
NOTES: KKS refers to Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa, SHDA to the Field Guide to Reptiles of East Africa, Branch to Snake and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. To go to the Bibliography from a given entry, click on B: to return to the Quick Index, click on I.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Mabuya | ||||
| M. acutilabris | Wedge-Snouted Skink | S Africa (Little Namaqualand), S Namibia, S Angola, Congo | ?" | Small skink distinguished by flattened snout and sharp edge to upper lip [Branch]. It lives in sandy areas where it digs short burrows at the base of vegetation. Juveniles raise their tails, possibly as a signal to other lizards. Scalation details (from Branch): subocular narrow at bottom, does not touch lip. Dorsal scales: three keeled, in 28-32 rows at midbody. Other: ear openings have long sharp lobules. Scales on soles are keeled, and those under the long toes have a single keel. Coloration: dorsally light brown with dark brown or black spots and white flecks that form short bands. Usually a pale dorsal stripe and one (sometimes two) distinct pale stripes on each side. Flanks may be barred in black. Reproduction: no details yet available. SOURCE: Branch. B I |
| M. affinis | ?? | W Africa | ?" | ??.B I |
| M. albilabris | White-Lipped Skink | W Africa | ??.B I | |
| M. allapallensis | ?? | India | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. andamanensis | ?? | Andaman Island (Indian Ocean) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. angolensis | ?? | Angola | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. arajara | ?? | NE Brazil | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. aurata | ?? | ?? | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. a. aurata | ||||
| M. a. septemtaeniata | Armenia, Caucasus | |||
| M. aureopunctata | ?? | ?? | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. bayonii | Bayon's Skink | Kenya, N Tanzania, Congo, Angola | 6-7" | Poorly known species living in high grassland and alpine moorland, at least in the E African part of its range. Terrestrial and diurnal: SHDA suggest that individuals at high altitudes move deep inside grass clumps at night to prevent freezing. Insectivorous. Scalation details (from SHKDA): Dorsal scales: tricarinate (having 3 keels), in 34-36 rows at midbody. Other: ear openings have 2-4 large lobules. Scales on soles of feet are non-spiny. Coloration: dorsally various shades of brown. Thin white or yellow lateral stripe runs from upper lip to level of hindlimbs and a dorsolateral white stripe from the nape to the level of the hindlimb. Back often marked with fine irregular black longitudinal lines. Ventrally white or cream. Reproduction: egg layer. SOURCE: SHDA. B I |
| M. b. bayonii | Bayon's Skink | Angola | ?" | B I |
| M. b. keniensis | Bayon's Skink | Kenya, N Tanzania, Congo, Angola | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. beddomii | ?? | India, Sri Lanka | ?" | The following details are recorded from Taylor's 4 Sri Lankan specimens in 1950. Scalation details: supranasals broadly in contact; frontonasal reduced, much wider than long; postnasal absent; prefrontal broadly in contact; 6 superciliaries; height of subocular about half its length; 1 pair of nuchals; temporals smooth; eyelid with 3-4 enlarged scales; 1st pair of chinshields separated. Dorsal scalation: dorsal and lateral scales weakly keeled with 3 (sometimes 5) keels; 30-31 rows at midbody. Coloration: dorsally brown; shortish black-edged stripe from nuchals to front of arm; broad dorsolateral dark stripe running to some distance on tail, bordered above by very narrow cream line and below by cream or white line about 2½ scales wide; latter line bordered below by dim dark line; lateral cream line runs from upper lip mostly above rather than through ear; ventrally immaculate white. Taylor notes that the Sri Lankan specimens differ from Indian specimens in having a reduced middorsal line [SOURCE: Taylor]B I |
| M. bensonii | ?? | W Africa (Liberia & Sierra Leone) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. betsileana | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | May be based on M. perrotetii as this species has not been seen on Madagascar for about 100 years: see EMBL reptile database entry for more details. B I |
| M. bibroni | ?? | India | ?" | Agile and active species, common in coastal sand dunes where it forages among vegetation. Scalation: dorsal and lateral scales have 5-7 keels (3 in juveniles). Other: transparent window present in lower eyelid. Coloration: dorsally brown with a black-edged vertebral stripe; white-edged black lateral stripe runs from eye to tailbase: ventrally white. [SOURCE: Daniel]B I |
| M. binotata | Ovambo Tree Skink | N Namibia & S Angola | ?" | Large and stout but shy skink found in arid savannah where it usually dwells in the hollow trunks of mopane trees or sometimes in rock cracks. Primary prey is beetles and grasshoppers. Scalation details (from Branch): subocular narrow at bottom, does not touch lip. Dorsal scales: three keeled, in 28-32 rows at midbody. Other: ear openings partially covered by 3 lobules. Lower eyelid has transparent window. Scales on soles are tubercular, and those under the long toes are smooth. Coloration: dorsally uniform olive grey with tint of buff. Usually a pale dorsal stripe and one (sometimes two) distinct pale stripes on each side. Reproduction: no details yet available. B I |
| M. bistriata | Two-Lined Skink | Brazil, French Guyana, Bolivia, poss. Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago and Jamaica | ?" | See EMBL reptile database entry for further details. B I |
| M. bocagii | ?? | Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, poss. Tanzania | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. boettgeri | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. boulengeri | Boulenger's Skink | Mozambique, Tanzania, E Zimbabwe | 6-12" | Long slender skink with long tail amounting to 2/3 the total body length. SHDA note that it is widespread and adapts well to agriculture. It is found in low-altitude savanna and coastal woodland from sea level to about 1500m. In the north of its range it is arboreal (found especially on coconut palms), but in the south tends to be more terrestrial. Reeds alongside streams and long grass are also favoured habitats where it may also sleep: SHDA also observe it may sometimes bask on thatched roofs and road verges. Diet is insects and spiders. Scalation details (from SHDA and Branch): 4 supraciliaries. Dorsal scales: smooth and shiny but bearing multiple keels (usually 7-9, but from 3 to 11), in 28-32 rows at midbody. Coloration: dorsally brown or grey-brown, sometimes with scattered black flecks. A black streak extends from the eye to the ear. Ventrally yellow, sometimes with black speckling. Reproduction: no details yet available. SOURCE: SHDA, Branch. B I |
| M. brauni | Ukinga Mountain Skink | S Tanzania and N Malawi | 4-6" | Another poorly-known skink. Body shape robust and cylindrical, tail about 60% of TL. Dwells at high altitudes (above 2200m). Scalation details (from SHDA): Dorsal scales: bicarinate (having 2 keels), in 38 rows at midbody. Other: ear openings have 2-4 large lobules. Scales on soles of feet are non-spiny. Coloration: dorsally dark brown with a pale vertebral and dorsolateral stripe. Multitude of small pale spots on back and sides. Ventrally white, sometimes with black speckling. Reproduction: no details yet available. SOURCE: SHDA. B I |
| M. brevicollis | Short-Necked Skink | E & C Kenya, Tanzania, E Uganda | 7-12" | Cylindrical-bodied skink. Despite its common name, it is not the neck of the skink that is short, but rather the head. It is found in low-altitude most and dry savanna, woodland, semi-desert and coastal thicket, in E Africa from sea level to approx 1,500m. Although mainly terrestrial, it also climbs rocks and fallen trees, and in at least one place has been observed basking on rocks by paths. Nevertheless it is quite wary. Its choice of dwelling places is quite catholic and apart from the normal holes and refuges under fallen logs, etc, has also been observed in squirrel warrens and termite mounds. It lives in large groups which may be colonies. Diet is larger arthropods, and there is at least one record of a mouse being eaten. Scalation: dorsal scales usually have 2 keels, the lateral scales 3. Subocular reaches lip and is not narrowed below. Dorsal scalation: 30-34 rows at midbody. Other: eyes are large and prominent; scales of soles smooth, some with 1-2 terminal spines; subdigital lamellae are keeled; tail is stout at base and forms about 50% of SVL. Coloration: varied, but seems to follow 3 stages. Hatchlings are black with bright yellow barring on the forward flanks. This then becomes clusters of crossbars of fine yellow dots., and then brown or grey, dark brown with light crossbars, or light brown with dark crossbars. Adult males are usually brown with irregular dark specks or crossbars that may be light or heavy, sometimes with a poorly defined light dorsolateral stripe, sometimes simply overall brown. Adult females usually have distinctive black and brown longitudinal stripes, with sometimes a vivid white speckling on the front half of the body. Ventral colouring is uniformly paler. SHDA notes that there is a unique population on the west side of Mt Meru in N Tanzania that has prominent black vertical stripes. Laurent gave the coloration of Somali specimens as follows: 12 transverse rows of 2-10 light spots on dorsum. Reproduction: little data available, but Ethiopian specimens are known to give live birth, and in E Kenya hatchlings have been recorded in April. SOURCE: SHDA. B I |
| M. breviparietalis | ?? | W Africa | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. buettneri | ?? | W Africa | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. caissara | ?? | Brazil (coast of the state of Sao Paulo N of Santos and island of Sao Sebastiao) | ?" | The common name derives from the Brazilian word "caiçara", a reference to the native inhabitants of this species' range. Scalation: accessory frontonasals present: dorsal scales in 30-34 rows at midbody: ventral scales 34-40 (males), 35-41 (females): 10-12 femoral pores: 14-17 lamellae on fourth toe. B I |
| M. capensis | Cape Skink | Southern Africa | 7-10" | Very common skink throughout most of southern Africa except in Namib, lowveld and the northern deserts. This is partly explained by its adaptability to various habitats including veld, bush and grassland (see Branch). It is also found in private gardens, but unfortunately there often falls victim to domestic cats. In build it is large and quite stocky: Branch says it often appears to be obese. It digs tunnel in loose soil at the base of boulders or bushes but can also be found in dead trees and fallen aloe stems. It apparently becomes quite tame. Diet is large insects. Scalation details (from Branch): subocular reaches upper lip. Dorsal scales: dorsal and lateral scales bear 3 keels, most noticeably on the back. 32-36 rows at midbody. Other: crescent-shaped ear openings have small lobes; large window in lower eyelids: scales with feeble spines on soles of feet; keel on lamellae beneath toes: 15-20 lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration: light- to olive-greyish brown with 3 paler dorsal longitudinal stripes (1 vertebral, 2 dorsolateral): a series of dark brown to black spots traverse the back and extend onto the flanks: these may be joined up to form transverse bars. Ventrally yellowish white to grey. A few individuals may be dorsally grey-brown with or without the pale stripes. Reproduction: most females give birth to 5-18 babies in late summer, but a few populations lay eggs instead. SOURCE: Branch. B I |
| M. carinata | Keeled Indian Mabuya/Golden Skink/Many-Keeled Grass Skink | Indian subcontinent & Indian Ocean | ?" | M. carinata basks at noon on warm blocks of stone. In coloration it is light bronze with 4-6 dorsal rows of black spots and dark lateral bands bordered by 2 narrow yellow stripes. Grzimek mentions that a subspecies has a lateral red band, but I am not certain whether this refers to M. c. lankae. The female lays 2-3 eggs per clutch in loamy soil. B I |
| M. c. carinata | ?? | India (not NW), Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka | ?" | The most common Indian skink, especially common in Bengal. Unusually for a skink, it is not shy of entering houses in its search for food, as well as creeping through leaf litter. It is mainly insectivorous but will also take small vertebrates. Scalation: 30-34 midbody scales, with 3, 5 or 7 keels. Other: scaly lower eyelid; 4th toe has 14-18 digital sublamellae. Coloration: dorsally shiny brown, olive or bronze, dark spots often present, flanks darker; light dorsolateral band runs from behind eye to tailbase; upper lip white; ventrally white or yellow. Reproduction: flanks of males turn scarlet in the breeding season. Ovoviviparous females give birth to up to 8 young per litter [NB I am not sure whether this invalidates Grzimek's species account above]. [SOURCE: Daniel] |
| M. c. lankae | ?? | Sri Lanka | ?" | ?? |
| M. carvalhoi | ?? | Brazil | ?" | See also note in EMBL reptile database entry. B I |
| M. chimbana | Chimba Skink | SW Angola & N Namibia | 4-6?" | Small slender skink which is apparently not well-known: it resembles M. variegata and is saxicolous, favoured habitat being granite outcrops in areas of mixed mesic savannah [Branch]. Scalation details (from Branch): subocular reaches upper lip. Dorsal scales: dorsal and lateral scales bear 5-7 keels in 34-40 rows at midbody. Other: ear openings have lobes; window in lower eyelids: spiny scales on soles of feet; keel on lamellae beneath toes. Coloration: dorsally bronze to olive-brown with a paler dorsolateral stripe that is more visible on the tail: scales may sometimes have dark flecks: flanks have black and white mottling. Ventrally white. Reproduction: no details available. SOURCE: Branch. B I |
| M. clivicola | ?? | India | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. cochabambae | ?? | Bolivia | ?" | Formerly considered a subspecies of M. frenata. B I |
| M. comorensis | Comores Island Skink | ?? | ?" | Formerly considered a subspecies of M. margaretifera. B I |
| M. croizati | ?? | Venezuela | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. cumingi | ?? | Philippines (Luzon) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. darevskii | ?? | Vietnam | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. delalandii | ?? | Cape Verde Islands (Fogo and Brava) | 102- 140mm | Scalation details (from Joger): 5 supraciliaries, 4 supraoculars, parietals fused, 46-54 scale rows at midbody. Coloration: often a dark spot in the axilla region.B I |
| M. depressa | Eastern Coastal Skink | RSA (coastal regions of KwaZulu, Limpopo, NE Kruger National Park), SE Zimbabwe, C Mozambique | 6-7?" | This is a somewhat flattened skink: Branch describes it as "elegant". It lives in coastal thicket on sandy soil, and although mainly terrestrial, will climb onto trunks and into foliage. It buries itself in loose soil at night or if disturbed. Scalation details (from Branch): subocular reaches upper lip but is not narrowed below: frontonasals in contact. Dorsal scales: dorsal and lateral scales bear 5-7 faint keels. Other: ear openings partially covered by 2-3 lobes each; small window in lower eyelids: tubercular scales on soles of feet; smooth scales beneath toes. Coloration: dorsally either plain grey-brown to red-brown or may have scattered black spots or tips of scales are dark and form narrow stripes longitudinally. Dark lateral band (often broken by flecks) stretches from eye to groin. It is bordered below by a yellow stripe which begins on the lip, and which in turn is bordered by another dark stripe. Ventrally lemon-yellow. Reproduction: lays up to 7 eggs in early summer. SOURCE: Branch. B I |
| M. dissimilis | Striped Grass Skink | India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh | ?" | Closely allied to E. bibroni. It is common in the dry western districts of its Indian range. Scalation: 2-3 keels on scales. Coloration: light brown with 3 greenish-white stripes bordered with black line or spots; eyelids edged in yellow. B I |
| M. dorsivittata | ?? | Uruguay, Paraguay, N Argentina, S Brazil, Bolivia | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. dumasi | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. elegans | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. e. elegans | ?? | ?" | ?? | |
| M. e. delphinensis | ?? | ?" | ?? | |
| M. englei | ?? | Philippines (Mindanao) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. falconensis | ?? | NW Venezuela | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. ferrarai | ?? | S Somalia | ?" | Restricted to coastal areas. B I |
| M. floweri | ?? | Sri Lanka | Max SVL 5½cm, TL 15cm? | This species is not listed by the Reptile Database, either as an extant species or synonym, but is listed by other authorities. It is described by Taylor (see Bibliography). Scalation details: frontal short, equal to or slightly less than distance from tip of snout, shorter than combined length of interparietal and frontoparietals; postnasal absent; supranasals separated; prefrontals and parietals separated; first chinshields separated; 6 superciliaries; palebra (transparent eyelid) broken up into 3-4 short quadrangular scales. Dorsal scalation: most scales tricarinate, in 30 scales rows about body and 18 dorsal and lateral rows which are heavily keeled. Ventral scalation: smooth, in 12 rows. Other: well-defined swollen area on posterior of thigh, covered with large, more or less regular, pointed scales. Coloration: dorsally dull olive with metallic reflections; greenish white dorsolateral line from eye to base of tail, fading towards tail; broad brownish band from eye to groin; indistinct white line on supralabials becomes sharper behind the eye, bordering the ear and running below brown band to groin; top of head brownish; 2 rows of about 20 short transverse dorsal marks run from shoulder to base of tail; ventral surface pale with slight greenish tinge. [SOURCE: Taylor] B I |
| M. fogoensis | ?? | Cape Verde Islands | ?" | Scalation details (from Joger): nuchal scales separated by one small scale. Dorsal scales: up to 60 midbody. B I |
| M. f. fogoensis | Fogo | |||
| M. f. antaoensis | Sto Antao | |||
| M. f. nicolauensis | Sao Nicolau | |||
| M. frenata | ?? | Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. gansi | ?? | S India | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. geisthardti | ?? | Cape Verde Islands (Sto Antao) | 162mm | Scalation details (from Joger): 5 supraciliaries, 4 supraoculars, parietals not fused, 64 scale rows at midbody. B I |
| M. gravenhorstii | Madagascar Jungle Skink | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. guaporicola | ?? | Brazil, Bolivia | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. heathi | ?? | Brazil | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. hemmingi | ?? | Somalia | ?" | Mid-sized stocky species with short limbs and toes. Laurent considered its closest relative to be E. brevicollis, from which it differs in havnig smooth soles and smooth subdigital lamellae. Scalation details: nostril dorsolaterally situated behind rostrolabial suture; supranasals in contact behind rostral; postnasal present, contacts 2nd labial; frontonasal broader than long, briefly contacts frontal; frontal slightly longer than frontoparietals and interparietals together; 4 supraoculars, of which 2nd longest; 4 superciliaries, of which 2nd longest; frontoparietals shorter than interparietal; parietals entirely separated; 1 pair perfectly smooth nuchals; subocular long, not narrowed below, between 4th and 5th labials. Dorsal scalation: dorsals smoth, lightly tricarinated on the hind part of the back. Other: scales on soles tubercular, rounded: subdigital lamellae smooth, some have a very blunt keel, 13-14 beneath 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally overall light brown with 6 longitudinal rows of darker spots: ventrally whitish. [SOURCE: Gans, Laurent and Pandit]. B I |
| M. hildae | ?? | Malawi | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. hildebrandtii | ?? | Somalia, Ethiopia | ?" | A common lizard of the coastal region along the ocean: Laurent noted that it did not seem to range more than a few miles from the beach. It was found in the open or beneath rock cairns. B I |
| M. hoeschi | Hoesch's Skink | N Namibia to S Angola | 6-12" | Slender skink that lives among rock outcrops and boulders. Its diet consists of wasps, beetles and moths. Scalation: subocular reaches upper lip. Dorsal scalation: 2-3 weak keels: 32 rows at midbody. Other: distinct ear lobes: window in lower eyelids: smooth scales on soles of feet: tail about twice SVL. Coloration: dorsally brown-grey with 4 rows of dark brown blotches which form transverse bands. There is a pale lateral stripe. Ventrally white with yellowish throat. Reproduction: no data available. SOURCE: Branch. B I |
| M. homalocephala | Red-Sided Skink | S Africa (S & E Cape coastal regions plus relict pop'ns on Cape and Mpumalanga escarpment mtns as far north as Wolkberg, N Province: a Little Namaqualand record may be erroneous) | 5-6?" | Medium-sized, "elegant" skink [Branch]. Mainly terrestrial, it forages in leaf litter. In inland areas they like to bask on rounded boulders beside dry riverbeds. Nevertheless they are very wary and difficult to approach. They are usually found in moist habitat, mainly coastal bushy fynbos or riverine vegetation in montane grassland. Scalation: subocular reaches lip but is not narrowed below. Dorsal scalation: 3 strong keels, 28-30 rows at midbody. Other: limbs shortish; scales on soles tubercular, those under long toes are smooth. Ear openings partially covered with 2-3 lobes each. Small transparent window in lower eyelid. Coloration: sexually dichromatic. Dorsally olive, olive-brown or pale-brown, bordered by first a pale dorsolateral stripe and then a dark-brown to black lateral band, which is itself bordered by a conspicuous pale lateral stripe. This latter becomes suffused with bright red in breeding males. The belly is likewise reddish in breeding males, otherwise yellowish to blue-white. Reproduction: in November-December females lay up to 10 eggs in a small chamber dug under a boulder or dead log. SOURCE: Branch. B I |
| M. indeprensa | ?? | Indonesia (Borneo), Philippines (Panay; Palawan: Calamian Islands, Negros, Cebu) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. infralineata | ?? | Madagascar (Europa Island) | ?" | Formerly considered a subspecies of M. comorensis. B I |
| M. innotata | ?? | India | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. irregularis | Alpine-Meadow Skink | ?? | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. ivensii | ?? | Angola, NW Zambia, SE Congo | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. lacertiformis | Bronze Rock Skink | ?? | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. laevis | Angolan Blue-Tailed Skink | ?? | ?" | Extremely flattened body, hides in narrow rocky crevices [Grzimek]. B I |
| M. lavarambo | ?? | Madagascar (Nosy Be) | 7-8" | Long-tailed species of the Malagasy aureopunctata group. Known (in 1998) only from 3 species collected from the Lokobe Reserve. Scalation details: 1 postnasal on each side: 4 supraoculars, of which 2nd greatly enlarged: 1 rectangular subocular scale (the 5th supralabial): 1-2 small elongate scales projecting from anterodorsal border of ear opening: Dorsal scalation: 5 strong keels, 28-30 rows at midbody. Other: lower eyelid undivided, with small transparent disk: scales of soles aspinous, subdigital scales acarinate: original tail about 2½x SVL. Coloration: overall brown? brown middorsal band about 4 scale rows wide flanked by longitudinal dorsolateral lighter stripes: ventrally white with dark longitudinal rows between scale rows: tail grey dorsally, lighter below. Reproduction: holotype had 3 developing ova in each ovary. B I |
| M. lineolata | Striped Skink | Hispaniola (N Haiti, N Dominican Rep) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. longicaudata | Giant Copper Skink | S China, W Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, poss. Cambodia | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. mabouya | ?? | Caribbean, Mexico and C America | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. m. mabouya | ?? | Lesser Antilles, Dominica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, other Caribbean islands, poss. N South America as far north as Panama | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. m. pergravis | ?? | Isla de Providencia, Isla Santa Catalina | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. m. sloanei | Antillean Skink | Lesser Antilles | ?" | Considered a full species by some authorities.B I |
| M. macleani | Carrot Rock Skink | British Virgin Islands | ?" | Named after its habitat on the islands: closely related to M. sloanei (see EMBL reptile database entry). B I |
| M. macrorhyncha | ?? | Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, coast of the state of S Paulo and islands of Vitoria, Buzios, Queimada Grande and Alcatrazes group) | ?" | Viviparous species: see EMBL reptile database entry. B I |
| M. m. macularia | Bronze Grass Skink | Indian subcontinent and SE Asia | ?" | In India, common in forested areas. Scalation: 28-30 rows at midbody with 5-9 (but never 8) keels. Other: 4th toe has 12-17 lamellae. Coloration: variable, but generally brown: spots may be present or absent. Reproduction: females with 3-4 eggs have been collected in June [SOURCE: Daniel].B I |
| M. m. malcomi | ||||
| M. m. postnasalis | ||||
| M. m. quadrifasciata | ||||
| M. maculata | ?? | Brazil | ?? B I | |
| M. maculilabris | Speckle-Lipped Skink | ?? | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. madagascariensis | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. margaretifera | Five-Lined/Rainbow Skink | RSA (KwaZulu- Natal) to S Malawi: isolated populations in C & SE Tanzania and S Kenya | 12" (av. 22 -28cm) | Large, attractive and active lizard. It is very much a rock-dweller, preferring igneus and metamorphic rocks such as granite, schist, gneiss, paragneiss and some sandstones [Branch, SHDA]. The species is found in mesic and arid savannah from sea level up to altitudes of about 1,500m. Although preying mainly on insects and other arthropods, it is also known to take smaller lizards. This is a very territorial species, with large adult males being dominant and not tolerating other males, although they do not attack young males or females that retain the juvenile colour pattern. Scalation: subocular reaches lip but is not narrowed below. Dorsal scalation: 3 strong keel in 42-44 [Branch, re S African specimens] or 38-52 [SHDA, re E African specimens] at midbody. Other: limbs relatively long; small window in lower eyelid; oval ear opening with 2-5 lobes; scales on sole tubercular, those under long toe smooth; short head; tail about 60% of total length. Coloration: dependent on sex and age. Juveniles and subadult males are dark olive-brown to black above, with 3 distinct bluish-white [Branch re S African specimens] or cream, ivory or yellow [SHDA re E African specimens] stripes that become bright electric-blue on the tail. Adult females retain this pattern but the stripes may fade and become subdivided. Adult males become dorsally buff-olive to olive-brown with each scale bearing a pearl-white spot: the pale stripes become indistinct and the tail changes from yellowish to orange-brown [Branch]. According to SHDA, E African adult males have 3 large black blotches on each side of the neck, with those at the lower end sometimes being reddish, and the tail becomes a dull olive-brown. SHDA also describe the legs as being greenish with black vermiculations, and the chin and throat lilac with white speckling. Reproduction: males approach possibly receptive females and bob the head and neck in a horizontal movement [SHDA]. Females lay 6-10 eggs [Branch] or 3-10 [SHDA] in summer. Incubation time in S Africa is 61-62 days. hatchlings are about 7-8cm in length. Branch suggests that there may be 2 clutches per season, especially in more northerly populations. SOURCE: Branch, SHDA. B I |
| M. megalura | Grass-Top Skink/ Long-Tailed Skink | ?? | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. mekuana | ?? | Cameroon | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. multicarinata | ?? | Malaysia (Borneo), Philippines (Palau Islands), Taiwan (Lanyu) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. m. multicarinata | ?? | ?" | ?? | |
| M. m. borealis | ?? | Philippines (inc. Luzon and Cebu islands) | ?" | ?? |
| M. multifasciata | Golden Skink | India, China, SE Asia, Indonesia, Philippines and New Guinea | ?" | Very widely distributed skink that is often seen in the pet trade. Oddly for such a cosmopolitan species there seem to be no subspecies. Click here for experiences with M. multifasciata as a pet, and here for John Sullivan's photographs. B I |
| M. nagarjuni | ?? | India | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. nancycoutuae | Nancy Coutu's Skink | SC Madagascar (Isalo National Park) | 4½cm [SVL] | Similar in appearance and habitat to M. vato but smaller. The name is derived from an American Peace Corps volunteer who helped to collect the holotype of the species and was later murdered. The species occupies a fairly small range that may be confined to the plateau where it was found. Its skin (and that of M. vato) is fairly fragile, possibly an antipredator mechanism. The specimens on which this species is based were taken on a rocky hill where the original vegetation had been burned off to be replaced by grassland and a few trees. Scalation details [from Nussbaum and Raxworthy, 1998: 2 specimens]: rostral has rounded middorsal projection: frontonasal narrowly contacts rostral anteriorly and frontal posteriorly: prefrontal contacts both loreals, of which 2nd is largest: frontal longer than wide, contacts 1st three supraoculars laterally and both frontoparietals posteriorly: subocular rectangular, indicating membership of the "M. aureopunctata" group of Malagasy Mabuya, rather than the "M. elegans" group, all of which have trapezoid suboculars: 4 supraoculars, 5 superciliaries: 4 supralabials anterior to subocular, 2 posterior to it: 7 infralabials: lower ciliaries 12-13, of which 4 on each side border palpebral window. Dorsal scalation: middorsal scales have 5 keels: 34 scale rows at midbody. Other: dorsolateral scales keeled, whereas ventral scales are not: digits lack ventral keeling: palpebral window present: ear has 2 small anterior lobes: body slightly depressed. Coloration: anterior is overall black with white dorsal markings consisting of seven broken white lines and a few coppery spots (the photograph of the living specimen in Nussbaum & Raxworthy shows that this coloration extends backwards just beyond the forelimbs), posterior is dorsally copper to coppery brown. Ventrally mainly whitish grey: distal part of tail is ventrally white: anterior neck and sides of throat have longitudinal black lines between scale rows. Reproduction: no details available. B I |
| M. nigropalmata | Black-Handed Skink | Brazil, Bolivia | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. nigropunctata | Black-Spotted Skink | Brazil, Bolivia, poss. N Peru | ?" | See EMBL reptile database entry about the confusion with M. bistriata. B I |
| M. novemcarinata | ?? | India (Sundas), Thailand, Burma | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. occidentalis | Western Three-Striped Skink | RSA (Cape area, inc. western valleys of the Little Karoo), Namibia, SW Botswana, S Angola | ?" | A terrestrial inhabitant of open sandy veld. In appearance it is similar to M. capensis, but less obese [Branch]. For shelter it digs a burrow in loose soil at the base of scrub bush. In winter it hibernates. Scalation: 30-32 rows at midbody: smooth scales on flanks: 2-3 enlarged ear lobes: 21-24 lamellae under 4th toes. Coloration: dorsally red- to olive-brown with 3 pale dark-edged stripes. Flanks are darker but broken by a longitudinal white stripe running from lip to groin. Belly is white. Reproduction: few details: Branch suggests that data from collected specimens implies that differing populations are either egg-layers or live-bearers. B I |
| M. pendeana | ?? | NW Central African Republic | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. perrotetii | Fire-Sided Skink | W Africa as far east as Uganda and Mali | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. planifrons | Tree Skink | ?? | ?" | Laurent noted in 1965 that most Somali specimens were taken from the trunks of tall trees at heights of up to 8m. B I |
| M. polytropis | ?? | W Africa | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. p. polytropis | ?? | Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, C Congo | ?" | ?? |
| M. p. paucisquamis | ?? | Ivory Coast, Ghana, Liberia | ?" | ?? |
| M. quadratilobus | ?? | Bhutan | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. quadricarinata | ?? | India | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. quinquetaeniata | Five-Lined Skink | Virtually all of N, W and S Africa, but not Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. q. quinquetaeniata | ||||
| M. q. langheldi | ||||
| M. q. riggenbachi | ||||
| M. q. scharica | ||||
| M. rodenburgi | ?? | Ghana, Nigeria | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. rudis | ?? | India (Nicobar Islands), Indonesia (inc. Borneo, Java and Sumatra), Philippines | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. rugifera | Sulawesi Bronze Bush Skink | India, S Thailand, W Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (inc. Borneo, Java and Sumatra) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. seychellensis | ?? | Seychelles | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. socotrana | ?? | Socotra and adj. islands (Yemen) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. spilogaster | Kalahari Tree Skink | RSA (N Cape Province), Botswana, Namibia, S Angola | ?" | An arboreal inhabitant of arid savannah along the Kimberley and Lower Orange Rivers. It is found mainly in Acacia trees along dry river courses. Scalation: subocular narrowed below, reaches upper lip: 2 short lobes on each ear opening. Dorsal scalation: 3 keels on each scale, 32-36 rows at midbody. Other: window in lower eyelid: spiny scales on soles of feet, keel on lamellae beneath toes. Coloration: dark brown overall, pair of broad dorsolateral stripes. Numerous scattered small pale spots between stripes and flanks. Belly is white with irregular dark speckles. Reproduction: females give birth to 3-5 young. B I |
| M. spinalis | ?? | Cape Verde Islands | 4½-5" | At times considered synonymous with M. stangeri: see EMBL reptile database entry. B I |
| M. s. spinalis | Fogo | Scalation details (from Joger): 3 supraciliaries, 4 supraoculars, parietals not fused, 38-40 scale rows at midbody. | ||
| M. s. maioensis | Maio | Scalation details (from Joger): 3 supraciliaries, 4 supraoculars, parietals not fused, 34-36 scale rows at midbody. | ||
| M. s. salensis | Boa Vista, Sal Rey | Scalation details (from Joger): 3-4 supraciliaries, 4 supraoculars, parietals fused, 40-44 scale rows at midbody. | ||
| M. stangeri | ?? | Cape Verde Islands (S. Vicente and Razo) | 5-6½" | Scalation details (from Joger): 4-5 supraciliaries, 4 supraoculars, parietals not fused, 40-48 scale rows at midbody. B I |
| M. stanjorgeri | ?? | ?? | ?" | Status unclear, may have been confused with M. stangeri: see EMBL reptile database entry for details. B I |
| M. striata | Striped Skink | RSA, Dem. Rep. Congo, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Comoro Islands | 25cm max, avg. 18-22 cm | Medium-sized, robustly built skink found in a variety of habitats, including forest clearings, coastal thicket, moist and dry savanna, semi-desert, mangrove swamps and urban areas, being often seen in towns. It is encountered at altitudes from sea level to up to 2,300m. Despite being essentially arboreal, it tolerates both urbanisation and people, becoming readily tame. In the right habitat it may occur in large numbers. The diet consists of arthropods, esp. beetles, but also vegetable matter and carrion. These skinks may be found foraging on rock outcrops, trees and houses. Scalation: subocular narrows below, usually reaches lip (see also subspecies entries). Dorsal scales have between 3-7 keels, being found in 32-43 rows [Branch] or 33-42 rows [SHDA] at midbody. There are spiny scales on the soles of the feet and a keel on the lamellae beneath the toes. Other: head and body slightly depressed; ear openings are lobed; window in lower eyelid. Coloration: see subspecies entries. M. striata can be distinguished from M. spilogaster by the lack of belly speckling and from M. planifrons by the much shorter tail. Reproduction: females give birth to 3-9 live young. In Tanzania these appear between May and September. Southern African populations in the south give birth to a single litter in the summer, but northern populations are sexually active all year round [Branch]. Sexual maturity is reached in 15-18 months. B I |
| M. s. striata | Common Striped Skink | RSA (KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo Valley), SE Zimbabwe and N & E to NE/E Kenya and Ethiopia | ?" | Large subspecies. Scalation: subocular separated from lip. Coloration: overall shades of brown, olive, reddish- or dull green, with 2 cream, yellow or light greenish dorsolateral stripes which in some animals may fade. Top of head and snout are reddish. Flanks are usually speckled white or yellow. Ventrally cream or white with some grey or black. Southern African specimens usually have a red-brown dorsum with a distinct yellow dorsolateral stripe and a white belly: the chin and throat may be speckled grey, black and orange. |
| M. s. punctatissimus | Highveld Striped Skink | RSA (NE Cape, Transkei, W KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and N Provinces), S Botswana: eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and Malawi | ? | Branch considers the populations found in the Zimbabwean and Malawian highlands to be relict. Scalation: prefrontals well separated. Coloration: dorsal coloration as for M. s. sparsa but with a pair of pale dorsolateral stripes. Belly yellow, usually with black spots and streaks on chin and throat. |
| M. s. sparsa | S Namibia, adj. RSA (N Cape) and Botswana | 16cm? | Scalation: subocular does not reach lip, prefrontals in contact. Coloration: dorsally dark brown to black with numerous small pale spots. Belly white, sometimes with black or orange throat. | |
| M. s. wahlbergi | ?? Striped Skink | N Namibia, Botswana, Angola, NW Zimbabwe, W Mozambique? | 8- 11cm SVL | Scalation: subocular usually reaches lip. Coloration: dorsally pale grey, sometimes with faint dorsolateral stripes. A black band extends from the eye to above the shoulder. Belly is white. |
| M. sulcata | Western Rock Skink | ?? | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. tandrefana | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. tavaratra | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. tessellata | ?? | Yemen, S Arabia | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. trivittata | ?? | India | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. tytleri | ?? | India (Andaman Islands) | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. unimarginata | Central American Mabuya | Mexico and C America | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. vaillantii | ?? | Cape Verde Islands (Cima, Sao Thiago) | 4½-7¾" | This is the largest Cape Verdean Mabuya species [Joger]. Scalation details (from Joger): 5-6 supraciliaries, 4-5 supraoculars, parietals fused, 48-54 scale rows at midbody. Coloration: characteristic yellowish tip of snout, two broad lateral bands and three more slender dorsal bands. B I |
| M. varia | Variable Skink | RSA (SE Cape), Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Namibia, Angola, Congo, poss. Uganda? | 18cm max, avg. 10-15cm | The common name of this skink derives from its coloration, which does vary. It is a short-lived species: two years is the maximum longevity, but more usually males live for 15-16 months and females for 16-17. It is found in a variety of habitats including coastal thicket, woodland, moist and dry savanna and high-altitude grassland, from sea level to 3,600m [SHDA], but not commonly in semi-desert. Tolerant of urbanisation, it is found in most Nairobi suburbs [SHDA] It is mainly a ground dweller, foraging on broken ground, but also climbs on rock and tree bases. Prey is usually caught by a short dash from cover, and consists of insects, spiders and sometimes other lizards. Scalation: subocular reaches upper lip: spiny scales on soles of feet: 3 keels on lamellae beneath toes. Dorsal scalation: scales have 3 keels, 27-36 [SHDA] or 30-36 [Branch] rows at midbody. Other: body slightly depressed: snout may be rounded [Branch] or pointed [SHDA]; window in lower eyelid: ear openings have short lobes: tail is about half the length of the body. Coloration: varies enormously from area to area. Branch gives the following characteristics: dorsum may be blackish, olive, pale brown or brown, with or without dark spots. A distinct lateral stripe is always present, also sometimes a pale veterbral stripe and dorsolateral stripes. Bluish-white ventrally. SHDA give the following information: overall usually a shade of brown, bronze or grey. White lateral stripe nearly always present from the upper lip to the hindlimbs, sometimes onto the tail. Back is brown, either uniformly or speckled to some extent with black, or longitudinally striped (this applies esp. to animals from montane areas) with up to 9 fine stripes fo black, red or yellow. A dark or black heavily speckled flank stripe is often present. See SHDA for examples of regional differences. Ventrally usually white or cream, but high-altitude specimens may be yellow or orange. They note that the white lateral stripe and small size of the species makes it fairly easy to distinguish. Reproduction: viviparous across most of its range, but some S African populations lay eggs. Broods vary in size, eg 2-4 babies in Free State and Lower Zambezi valley, 3-10 babies in East Africa. In N Province in RSA, females lay a single clutch of 6-12 eggs which have an incubation time of 2 months. SHDA note that hatchlings are collected in Kenya in December, March and April, and that the species probably breeds throughout the year in moist areas. Hatchlings are 4-6cm on hatching. In keeping with their short lifespan, they reach sexual maturity in just eight months. B I |
| M. v. nyikae | Malawi (Nyika plateau) | Poorly defined subspecies [Branch]. | ||
| M. variegata | Variegated Skink | ?? | 48-53mm SVL | The two subspecies may actually represent two different species, since they differ in both ecology and appearance [Branch]. They can be found in varied habitat including desert, karroid veld, montane grassland, savannah, coastal bush and mesic thicket [Branch]. Scalation details: subocular reaches upper lip. Dorsal scales in 30-36 rows at midbody. Spiny scales on soles of feet, keel on lamellae beneath toes. Ear openings are lobed; window present in lower eyelid. Coloration: variable, especially in the west of the range. Dorsally light-grey to dark brown, usually with a pair of lateral stripes present. Pale grey-brown individuals are also known. The belly is white. Reproduction: breeding males develop reddish-brown coloration below the hindlegs and on the tail base. This species is viviparous, with 2-4 young being born usually between January and March. B I |
| M. v. variegata | 53mm SVL | Found around small rocky outcrops, shelters in burrows under rocks and logs or sometimes in soil-filled cracks. Scalation: 3 keels on dorsal scales. Coloration: pale stripes may be obscured or absent, and the back heavily flecked with black. | ||
| M. v. punctata | 48mm SVL | Lives on sandy soils and shelters in holes at the base of bush clumps. Scalation: 3 keels on dorsal scales of juveniles, but 5-7 on dorsal scales of adults. Coloration: thin dorsal stripe bordered by series of black spots or streaks that extend onto the tail. | ||
| M. vato | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. vezo | ?? | SW Madagascar | ?" | Small white-spotted species of the aureopunctata-group of Madagascan mabuyas, with regularly arranged rows of white spots on the dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces of the neck, body, and tail. Known from only 7 specimens from a single locality in Madagascar: this locality is "fady" (taboo), which provides some degree of protection for the species.. M. vezo is a rock-dweller, similar in size and habitat to M. vato, and in coloration to the much larger M. aureopunctata. It is broadly sympatric with only one member of its species-group, M. aureopunctata, but two species of the elegans-group, M. elegans and M. gravenhorstii, occur in the same area. [SOURCE] B I |
| M. vittata | Bridled Skink | N Africa (E Algeria to Egypt), Cyprus, Rhodes, Asia Minor & Middle East to W Iran | 8" | Easily distinguished in its home areas as it is the only N African skink with longitudinal stripes [KKS]: the only species with which it might be confused is M. quinquetaenia in Egypt. M. vittata occupies a range of habitats provided there is cover available, including gardens. Local populations may have quite a high density [KKS]. These skinks feed mainly on insects but also on small lizards, including juveniles of their own species [KKS]. KKS suggest offering small grasshoppers, small mantids and flies to new-born young in captivity. Hibernation takes place in cool areas, usually those above 1000m altitude. These are good climbers, so an escape-proof tank is a must. Scalation details (from KKS): prefrontals in broad, small or no contact: 4 supraoculars: parietals usually touch behind interparietal: nostril pierces the nasal, usually no postnasal. 7 supralabials, of which 5th is below the orbit: ear opening is oval with 2-3 lobules, of which 1 is usually elongated. Dorsal scales: three keeled, slightly larger than lateral or ventral scales, in 32-34 rows at midbody. Other: lower eyelid has undivided transparent disk. Coloration: dorsally olive cream or brown, with light vertebral stripe and two whitish lines on each side: the lower line begins below the eye and passes through the ear. The lines may be edged with black lines or bands. Venter is whitish grey, yellowish or greenish. Reproduction: one of the viviparous members of the genus. Males are aggressive during the mating period, which would seem to suggest that keeping one male per tank in captivity is a wise course. Mating seems to be dependent on elevation and/or hibernation, but KKS do not give details other than mating taking place in mid-June at 1200m elevation inland. They do note that birth times are variable according to local climates and take place between June and September. An average of 6 young are born per litter. SOURCE: KKS B I |
| M. volamenaloha | ?? | Madagascar | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. wingati | ?? | Ethiopia | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. wrightii | ?? | Seychelles | ?" | ?? B I |
| M. w. wrightii | ||||
| M. w. ilotensis | ||||
Echsen [Lizards] 2, Manfred Rogner, Ulmer, Stuttgart 1994. Lists a few representative Mabuya species with useful details on husbandry of captives.
Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa, W Kästle, H H Schleich and K Kabisch, Koeltz Scientific Books, Germany 1996. Outstanding review of N African herpetofauna giving detailed account of each species.
Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa by Stephen Spawls, Kim Howell, Robert Drewes and James Ashe. Detailed and invaluable review of all reptile species in the region.
Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa, Bill Branch, Struik. Very good overview of all reptiles in the region with identification details.
Ghanese Lizards of the Genus Mabuya (Scincidae, Sauria, Reptilia), M S Hoogmoed, Zoologische Verhandelingen No. 138, Rijksmuseum Van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, Netherlands 1974.
Notes on a herpetological collection from the Somali Republic, Carl Gans, Raymond F Laurent and Hemchandra Pandit, Royal Museum of Central Africa, Terveuven, Belgium 1965.
"On two Collections of Reptiles and Amphibians from the Cape Verde Islands, with Descriptions of three New Taxa", Ulrich Joger, Courier Forschungs-Institut Senckenburg, 1993. Dr Joger very kindly sent me this work, which is very useful for details of some of Cape Verde's geckos and skinks.
"Distribution and differentiation of animals along the coast and in continental islands of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. 2. Lizards of the genus Mabuya (Sauria, Scincidae)", Regina Rebouças-Spieker, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, S Paulo, Vol.28 (12): 197-240, 7 plates, 11.XI.1974. Gives details of the species M. caissara and also some general characteristics of South American Mabuya.
"A new species of Mabuya FITZINGER (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from the high plateau (Isalo National Park) of South-Central Madagascar", Ronald A Nussbaum and Christopher J Raxworthy, Herpetologica 54(3), 1998, 336-343. Gives details of M. nancycoutuae and discusses its relationship with the other Malagasy Mabuya.
The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians, J C Daniel, Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002.
Ceylonese Lizards of the Family Scincidae, Edward H Taylor, University of Kansas Science Bulletin, Vol XXXIII, Pt. II, March 20 1950.
Skinks, Jerry G Walls, TFH 1996. Contains useful basic husbandry tips.
Keeping and Breeding Lizards, Chris Mattison, Blandford Press. Also contains useful husbandry tips.
Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 6: Reptiles, Grzimek,1975.
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