Sphenomorphus

QUICK INDEX

S. abdictus

S. acutus, Pointed-Head Sphenomorphus

S.  aesculeticola

S. amblyplacodes 

S. annectens 

S. anotus 

S. arborens, Negros Sphenomorphus

S. assatus 

S. atrigularis, Zamboanga Sphenomorphus

S. beauforti 

S. beyeri, Beyer's Sphenomorphus

S. bignelli 

S. biparietalis, Sulu Sphenomorphus

S. brunneus 

S. buenloicus 

S. buettikoferi 

S. celebense 

S. cherrei 

S. cinereus 

S. concinnatus 

S. consobrinus 

S. courcyanum 

S. coxi, Cox's Sphenomorphus

S. cranei 

S. crassa

S. cryptotis

S. cumingi, Cuming's Eared Skink

S. cyanolaemus 

S. darlingtoni 

S. decipiens, Black-Sided Sphenomorphus

S. derroyae 

S. devorator 

S. diwata, Diwata Sphenomorphus

S. dorsicatenatus

S. dussumieri

S. fasciatus, Banded Sphenomorphus

S. florensis 

S. forbesi

S. fragilis

S. fragosus

S. fuscolineatus

S. grandisonae

S. granulatus

S. haasi

S. hallieri

S. helenae

S. incertus

S. incognitus

S. indicus , Indian Forest Skink

S. jagori, Jagor's Sphenomorphus

S. jobiensis 

S. kinabaluensis 

S. kitangladensis 

S. knollmanae

S. kuehni 

S. laterimaculatus 

S. lawtoni 

S. leptofasciatus 

S. leucospilos, White-Spotted Sphenomorphus

S. lineopunctulatus

S. llanosi, Leyte Sphenomorphus

S. longicaudatus 

S. luzonense, Highland Sphenomorphus

S. maculatus, Spotted Forest Skink

S. maculicollis 

S. maindroni

S. malayanum, Malayan Forest Skink

S. megalops 

S. microtympanus

S. mimicus, Dwarf Forest Skink

S. mimikanum 

S. mindanensis, Mindanao Sphenomorphus

S. minutus

S. modigliani 

S. muelleri

S. multisquamatus 

S. murudensis 

S. necopinatus

S. neuhaussi 

S. nigriventris 

S. nigrolabris

S. nigrolineata 

S. nitens 

S. oligolepis 

S. praesignus, Blotched Forest Skink

S. pratti 

S. puncticentralis

S. rarus 

S. rufocaudatus, Red-Tailed Forest Skink

S. sabanus, Sabah Forest Skink

S. sanctus, Java Forest Skink

S. sarasinorus 

S. schultzei 

S. scotophilus, Selangor Forest Skink

S. scutatus 

S. shelfordi

S. simus 

S. solomonis 

S. steerei 

S. stellatus, Perak Forest Skink

S. stickeli 

S. striatopunctatum

S. striolatus 

S. tagapayo, Aurora Mountain Skink

S. taiwanensis

S. tanahtinggi 

S. tanneri 

S. taylori

S. temminicki 

S. tenuiculus 

S. transversus

S. tritaeniatus 

S. tropidonotus 

S. undulatus

S. vanheurni 

S. variegatus, Black-Spotted Sphenomorphus

S. victoria 

S. wolfi 

S. woodfordi 

S. wrighti,Wright's Sphenomorphus

S. zimmeri

Scientific Name

Common Name

Distribution

Size

Notes

Sphenomorphus

S. abdictus

??

Philippine Islands

?"

Was considered part of S. jagori for some time . B I

S. a. abdictus

??

Philippines (Mindanao, Camiguin, Bohol)

?"

??.B I

S. a. aquilonius

??

Philippines (S Luzon, Polillo)

?"

??.B I

S. acutus

Pointed-Head Sphenomorphus

Philippines (Samar)

?"

Slender species with pointed snout, found on both ground and tree trunks. Scalation details: single frontoparietal; 6 supraoculars. Dorsal scalation: 26-30 scale rows at midbody. Other: 32-34 lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally brownish tan; thin black stripe from nose to eye broadens as a dorsolateral stripe with irregular markings to just past the fore limbs, then becomes a series of irregular bars (usually 6) up to the hindlimbs, after which it fades; spaces between the irregular bars are whitish tan; dark irregular spots on the middle of the head and body; tail is brownish with scattered black spots; limbs overall light brown and reticulated with dark markings. Ventrally immaculate light yellow. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. aesculeticola

Malaysia (Sabah)

S. amblyplacodes

??

Indonesia (Irian Jaya), New Guinea

??.B I

S. annectens

??

Papua New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. annotus

??

Papua New Guinea

?"

Lacks external ear. B I

S. arborens

Negros Sphenomorphus

Philippines (Negros, Panay, Pan de Azucar, Masbate)

45-63mm SVL

Found under leaves and logs and along stream banks, occasionally on lower parts of tree trunks, also in abaca groves in forested areas. A moderately stout species with short, well-rounded snout and well-developed limbs. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact; interparietals distinct and in contact; 5 (usually) large supraoculars. Dorsal scalation: 36-40 scale rows at midbody, 62-75 transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum only slightly sunk; 19-22 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally light brown to dark reddish brown with vertebral row of black spots and sometimes very narrow blackish longitudinal lines: upper lateral surfaces of head and body have a black band scalloped above and below or broken posteriorly into large blotches: ventrally light to dirty tan, either immaculate or darker beneath the head and throat. [SOURCE: Alcala]B I

S. assatus

??

Mexico & C America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras)

?"

?? B I

S. a. assata

??

Pacific slopes, SE Chiapas southward to Honduras

?"

??.B I

S. a. taylori

??

Colima to SW Chiapas, in lower areas. Guerrero, Jalisco, Oaxaca

?"

??.B I

S. atrigularis

Zamboanga Sphenomorphus

Philippines (Mindanao, Zamboanga, Basilan)

SVL 3-3½ cm

Small slender species with short rounded snout and relatively short limbs. It is found under duff and logs and among rocks on the forest floor. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact; frontoparietals distinct or fused; parietals undivided; 4 large supraoculars, 1 large anterior loreal; temporals small to moderate. Dorsal scalation: 27-32 scale rows at midbody, 52-59 transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum moderately sunk; 8-11subdigital lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally brown, indistinctly spotted with paler and darker brown; distinct dorsolateral black band extedning onto tail; tail marked with small whitish spots. Ventrally whitish but bluish-black to slate on head and throat. [SOURCE: Alcala]B I

S. beauforti

??

Papua New Guineau

?"

?? B I

S. beyeri

Beyer's Sphenomorphus

Philippines (N Luzon)

?"

As of 1986 this species was known from a single species. Therefore although details are given here, it should be understood that these only pertain to one individual, that described by Alcala. The specimen itself was found at about 1,500m altitude on Mt Banahao. Scalation details: prefrontals separate; frontoparietals fused; 4 large supraoculars. Dorsal scalation: 40 or so scale rows at midbody, 93 or so transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum not deeply sunk; 19 subdigital lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally lavender brown with darker mottling and indistinct mid-dorsal row of black spots; lateral dark brown band, widest at neck, flanked above and below with light yellow-brown markings. Labials purplish, each with a round light spot. Ventrally yellowish to flesh but with lavender mottling on head. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. bignelli

??

Solomon Islands

?"

?? B I

S. biparietalis

Sulu Sphenomorphus

Philippines (Sulu Archipelago)

SVL 3- 3½cm"

Small and rare species with slender body, long and rather blunted snout and relatively short limbs. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact; frontoparietals distinct; parietals divided, forming a large median parietal and a small lateral parietal; 4 large supraoculars and 1 large anterior loreal. Dorsal scalation: 30-34 scale rows at midbody, 58-68 transverse rows. Other: ear fairly large, tympanum not deeply sunk; 9-11 subdigital lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally brownish with many scales flecked with white; light lateral dotted line bordered below by darker white-flecked band. Labials marked by white spots. Ventrally cream. [SOURCE: Alcala]B I

S. bruneus

??

S & C Papua New Guinea

?"

Found at altitudes from sea level to 4,500ft. B I

S. buenloicus

??

Vietnam

?"

?? B I

S. buettikofferi

??

Indonesia (Borneo)

S. celebense

??

Indonesia (Sulawesi)

S. cherriei

??

C America

?"

??. B I

S. c. cherriei

??

Tabasco and N Chiapas on Atlantic slopes, Costa Rica on Pacific slopes, eastward to Panama.

?"

??. B I

S. c. ixbaaca

??

Peninsula of Yucatán, southward as far as Campeche and N Petén, Guatemala.

?"

??. B I

S. c. stuarti

??

C Veracruz, in foothills, southward to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec; Oaxaca.

?"

??. B I

S. cinereus

??

Papua New Guinea

?"

See EMBL reptile database entry for further details. B I

S. concinnatus

??

Solomon Islands (Bougainville)

?"

?? B I

S. consobrina

??

Indonesia (Bacan)

?"

?? B I

S. courcyanum

India (Assam), S Tibet

6-12"

??. B I

S. coxi

Cox's Sphenomorphus

Philippines

57-80mm SVL

Moderately stout with bluntly rounded snout and well-developed limbs. Scalation details: prefrontals usually separate (sometimes barely in contact); frontoparietals fused; 4-5 supraoculars; nuchals absent. Dorsal scalation: 32-38 (usually 34-36) midbody scale rows; 62-73 transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum sunk; 20-26 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally light- to reddish brown; usually some darker flecks or sometimes indistinct dark and light transverse bands present; prominent black band along upper lateral surface from neck or forelimb region to tail base, may be broken anteriorly; upper labials have dark blotches but lack prominent vertical bars on posterior labials; ventrally dirty white to tan with dark narrow wavy lines under head and throat. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. c. coxi

Philippines (Mindanao, Leyte, Samar, Camiguin)

S. c. divergens

Philippines (Mindoro, Luzon, Panay Marinduque)

S. cranei

Solomon Islands 

?"

?? B I

S. crassa 

Malaysia (Sabah, Borneo) 

?"

?? B I

S. cryptotis

N Vietnam

?"

?? B I

S. cumingi

Philippines (inc. Mindanao, Bohol, Luzon, Mindoro, Panay)

SVL 11-14 cm

Formerly known as Otosaurus cumingi, this is a rarer species found in tropical rainforest, typically beneath rotting logs. It has well-developed limbs and is a fast runner. May be limited to low or medium altitudes. Scalation details: supranasals large and in contact behind the rostral. Dorsal scalation: 48-52 scale rows at midbody, 75-90 transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum somewhat sunken; 22-27 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally reddish brown with dark crossbars or smaller blotches on neck and body; crossbars are broad around the neck and above the forelimbs: ventrally tannish. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. cyanolaemus

Indonesia (inc. Sarawak, Borneo and Sumatra)

?"

??

S. darlingtoni

Papua New Guinea 

TL approx. 11½cm?

Originally described as Tropidophorus darlingtoni by Loveridge. Scalation details: head shields smooth; frontonasal broader than long; prefrontals in contact; combined length of prefrontals and frontal as long as that of frontoparietals and interparietal; parietals form suture behind interparietal; 6 supraoculars, of which 1st largest and last very small, none touching eye; 7-8 supraciliaries; 5 supralabials, of which 4th below centre of eye and separated from latter by small suboculars; 4 infralabials. Dorsal scalation: smooth, in 34-36 rows at midbody; dorsals subequal to ventrals. Other: pair of enlarged preanals; tympanum smaller than orbit; 12-15 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally pale brown with heavy darker speckling and mottling, especially on head; leaden coloured lips spotted with white; flanks paler than dorsum; eyelike spot just above insertion of forelimb, more distinct in young than adults; limbs pale and variegated with darker markings; ventrally, chin and throat leaden coloured as far back as forelimbs, each scale with small pale spot at its base (white in young with scattered flecks, especially towards the sides), otherwise immaculate white [Loveridge suspected pinkish in life]; tail anteriorly white with heavy leaden speckling (in young the whole underside of the tail is this scheme), posteriorly completely leaden. Reproduction: no details available. [SOURCE: Loveridge 1945]B I

S. decipiens

Black-Sided Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (inc. Luzon and Mindanao) 

SVL 3-4½ cm

Smallish rare species with short blunt snout and fairly well-developed limbs, usually found in forest floor litter. Scalation details: prefrontals usually in broad contact; frontoparietals fused; 4 large supraoculars; nuchals absent. Dorsal scalation: 34-38 scale rows at midbody, 57-66 transverse rows. Other: ear fairly large, tympanum moderately sunk; 14-18 subdigital lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally light- to dark reddish- brown; vertebral row of short blackish bars alternating with tan-coloured spaces between neck and hind limbs; wide lateral band, slate-brown to black, from snout to tail. Ventrally ivory to light tan but with uniform or blotched dark brown to black pattern on head and throat. [SOURCE: Alcala] See also note in EMBL reptile database entry. B I

S. derroyae

Indonesia (Irian Jaya), Admiralty Islands, New Britain, New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago 

?"

B I

S. devorator

N Vietnam 

?"

?? B I

S. diwata

Diwata Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (NE Mindanao) 

SVL 5-6cm

Relatively slender and rare species with short blunt snout and well developed limbs. It is found under forest litter. According to Alcala it is known only from the Diwata mountains. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact; frontoparietals distinct; nuchals absent; 5 large supraoculars. Dorsal scalation: 40-42 midbody rows, 90-102 transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum not deeply sunk; 14-15 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally light to dark reddish brown, blotched or suffused with blackish brown but lacking distinct black spots in rows; dorsolateral wide, irregularly edged blackish band or series of blotches; ventrally light with broken blackish longitudinal lines on head and throat. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. dorsicatenatus

Sri Lanka

?"

??. B I

S. dussumieri 

Dussumier's Forest Skink 

SW India, Sri Lanka

?"

Recorded by Taylor as "very common" in certain areas. Scalation details (from Taylor for Sri Lanka): prefrontals broadly in contact; 4-5 supraoculars. Dorsal scalation: striated, in 40 scale rows at midbody. Other: 20-25 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. [SOURCE: Taylor] B I

S. fasciatus 

Banded Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (inc. Sulu, Mindanao, Leyte, Bohol and Panay)

SVL 5½-8 cm

Moderately slender, subcylindrical-shaped species with rounded snout and well-developed limbs. Found on forset floors under leaves, logs and cocont husks. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact, frontoparietals distinct; 5 supraoculars; 5-6 pairs of nuchals. Dorsal scalation: 28-32 (usually 30) scale rows at midbody, 78-90 transverse rows. Other: ear opening fairly large, tympanum rather deeply sunk; 20-26 subdigital lamellae under 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally dark greyish-brown to deep slate; 8-18 narrow wavy light transverse bands between axilla and hind limbs, more on tail; ventrally creamy, with or without a few dark spots; throat and head deeply suffused with or uniformly slate or dusky brown. [SOURCE: Alcala]B I

S. florensis 

Indonesia (Java, Flores and Timor) 

?"

?? B I

S. forbesi

Papua New Guinea 

?"

?? B I

S. fragilis 

Papua New Guinea 

?"

?? B I

S. fragosus 

Solomon Islands (Bougainville) 

?"

?? B I

S. fuscolineatus 

Papua New Guinea 

?"

?? B I

S. grandisonae

Grandison's Forest Skink 

Thailand 

?"

?? B I

S. granulatus 

Papua New Guinea 

?"

?? B I

S. haasi

Malaysia, Indonesia (Borneo, Sarawak)

?"

??

S. hallieri 

Indonesia (Borneo)

?"

??

S. helenae 

Notaburi Forest Skink 

C Thailand 

?"

?? B I

S. incertus

Mexico (Chiapas), SW Guatemala, Honduras 

?"

?? B I

S. incognitus 

China, Taiwan 

?"

??. B I

S. indicus 

Indian Forest Skink

S China, Taiwan, Tibet, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Indochina, W Malaysia 

?"

Scalation details: rostral large, broadly in contact with frontonasal, the latter in contact with anterior loreal, prefrontals, and broadly with the frontals; no supranasals; frontal long, tapering backwards almost to a point, in contact with the front two large supraoculars; 4 supraoculars; frontoparietals and interparietal distinct, the foerm in contact with 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th supraoculars; parietals short, with a short suture behind interparietal; no nuchals; nostril in a single nasal, no postnasal; anterior loreal high, in contact with internaal; 7 supralabials, of which 5^th and 6^th largest; upper large temporal of second row larger than lower; lower eyelid scaly; ear-opening large, smaller than eye, no lobules; one azygous postmental; 34-38 scale row around the body; 4 preanals, of which median pair largest; soles nearly uniformly granular. Coloration (in alcohol) dorsally pale olive brown, with numerous small blackish spots arranged in a central row and a lateral row on each side, the lateral spots being wider and bordering the upper dorsolateral white band; wide blackish band with zigzag edges runs from eye to above hind leg, as does a median row of small white dots; above the wide black band is a narrower whitish band, and below it a broader white band, from snout through ear-opening to groin; below this is a dark-brown band with median larger white spots; ventrally whitish; tale buff, darker dorsally and with pale brownish spots as a continuation of the dorsal and lateral bands; legs dorsally brown with rounded pale spots; sutures of labials marked with dar brown spots. [SOURCE: Stejneger] B I

S. jagori

Jagor's Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (not Palawan or adjacent small islands)

SVL 7-11 cm 

Robust species with long bluntly-rounded snout and well-developed limbs. According to Alcala this species has only been taken in original forested areas, including abaca groves near forested areas. It is usually found under rotting logs and along stream beds. Scalation details: prefrontals usually separate but sometimes narrowly in contact; frontoparietals distinct; 4 large supraoculars; nuchals absent. Dorsal scalation: 36-44 scale rows at midbody, 62-80 transverse rows. Other: ear moderate, typanum sunk; 24-30 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration: dorsally light to dark brown; transverse lighter lines that may be distinct or vague, usually broken and narrow; blackish lateral band in area of groin and above the hind limbs; sometimes anterior lateral black blotches; blackish transverse bars usually present on lips, most prominently on posterior labials; ventrally ivory to fleshy tan, often with rows of dark spots or longitudinal lines on head and throat. [SOURCE: Alcala]

S. j. jagori 

Philippines (inc. Mindanao, Leyte, S Luzon, Mindoro)

S. j. grandis 

Philippines (inc. Cebu, Negros and Panay)

S. jobiensis

Indonesia (inc. Aru Islands and Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea, Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago 

?"

?? B I

S. kinabaluensis 

Malaysia (Borneo, Sabah) 

?"

?? B I

S. kitangladensis 

Philippines (Mindanao) 

?"

?? B I

S. knollmanae

Philippines (Luzon) 

?"

?? B I

S. kuehnei 

Indonesia (Kei Islands) 

?"

?? B I

S. laterimaculatus 

Philippines (Luzon)

?"

?? B I

S. lawtoni 

Philippines (Luzon)

?"

?? B I

S. leptofasciatus 

Papua New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. leucospilus 

White-Spotted Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (Luzon)

SVL 5½cm

This was an enigmatic species for many years until apparently rediscovered in 1995 (see EMBL database entry). Details given are for the sole specimen known to Alcala in 1985. Body is slender and somewhat depressed with moderately long round pointed snout. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact; frontoparietals fused; interparietal large; 4 large supraoculars; nuchals absent. Dorsal scalation: 32 midbody rows, 63 transverse rows. Other: ear relatively large, tympanum on surface; 18 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally light brown with vertebral, dorsolateral and lateral row of large whitish spots, each spot covering 2-4 scales. Top of head is matt brown; upper labials are brown with a light spot; ventrally creamy white. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. lineopunctatus 

Line-Spotted Forest Skink 

Thailand 

SVL 5½cm

B I

S. llanosi 

Leyte Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (Leyte and Samar) 

SVL 6-9cm

Rather slender species with tapered snout and well developed limbs. Alcala considered it rare. Scalation details: prefrontals narrowly separated or in contact; frontoparietals distinct; usually 5 supraoculars; nuchals absent. Dorsal scalation: 38-42 midbody rows, 68-72 transverse rows. Other: ear moderately sized, tympanum sunk; 20-24 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally dark- to blackish-brown with mottling on individual scales; usually very narrow irregular transverse light lines or series of small light spots; black dorsolateral band above hind limb; usually large black blotches between eyes and forelimbs. Upper labials marked by series of light spots or a light line that extends to the ear; ventrally light flesh colour with narrow dark longitudinal lines on head and throat. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. longicaudatus 

Papua New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. luzonense 

Highland Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (Luzon)

SVL 4cm

A rare higher altitude species, found in forest areas at about 2,000m. Scalation details: 1 frontoparietal, 1 anterior frenal; 4 supraoculars. Dorsal scalation: 28 midbody rows. Other: 13 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in alcohol): dorsally yellowish-brown with median dark stripe broken by small whitish dots; tail is lighter; head darker with vague dark interorbital area; wide undulating dark line between ear and tail, of which upper edge is bordered by row of clustered white dots and the sides below are greyish-brown with numerous whitish dots which are also found laterally on the tail; temporal region has blackish spot; labials are greyish with white spots; ventrally white marble, darker in neck and chin and pinkish in belly and base of tail. [SOURCE: Alcala]. B I

S. maculatus 

Spotted Forest Skink

China, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India (Darjeeling, Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia (Sundas), New Guinea 

?"

?? B I

S. m. maculatus

S. m. mitanensis

Thailand

S. maculicollis 

Malaysia (Borneo, Sarawak) 

?"

?? B I

S. maindroni 

New Guinea, Admiralty Islands, New Britain 

?"

?? B I

S. malayanum

Malayan Forest Skink

Vietnam, Malaysia (Malacca), Indonesia (Sumatra)

?"

?? B I

S. megalops 

Sri Lanka

SVL approx 4"

Extremely flattened body, hides in narrow rocky crevices [Grzimek]. Scalation details: supranasals absent; parietals separated by interparietal. Dorsal scalation: smooth (as are lateral scales). Ventral scalation: feebly keeled, in 24-26 transverse rows. Other: eye large; ear lacks auricular lobules or dentations. Coloration: uniform dark brown. [SOURCE: Taylor]. B I

S. microtympanus 

Papua New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. mimicus 

Dwarf Forest Skink 

Thailand

?"

?? B I

S. mimikanum 

New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. mindanensis 

Mindanao Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (Leyte, Mindanao, Bohol)

?"

?? B I

S. minutus 

Indonesia (inc. Irian Jaya), poss. New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. modigliani 

Indonesia (inc. Sumatra)

?"

?? B I

S. muelleri 

Indonesia (inc. Seram, Kai and Aru Islands, Irian Jaya and New Guinea)

?"

??.B I

S. multisquamatus 

Indonesia (Borneo, Sarawak, Sabah)

?"

Differentiated by Inger from S. variegatus based on differences in scalation and coloration. Inger also noted differences between paratypes from “Sarawak” and those from elsewhere in reduced scale counts in the former for scale rows and ventrals (40-41 vs 42-47 and 80-95 vs 92-101 respectively). Scalation details: 6-7 supraoculars, 14-15 supraciliaries; frontonasal may be wider or narrower than frontal; parietals occasionally separated; 18-22 subdigital lamellae on 4^th toe; no auricular lobules. Dorsal scalation: 40-46 rows. Ventral rows: 80-101. Coloration: dark grey in life, brown to greyish-brown in alcohol; black labial bars usually wider than the interspaces; species lacks black cervical spot but may have black lateral stripe; males in life bluish on throat and sides of neck; dark checks may e present on labial sutures. [SOURCE: Inger 1958]. B I

S. murudensis 

Malaysia, Indonesia (Borneo)

?"

??. B I

S. necopinatus 

Indonesia (Java)

?"

?? B I

S. neuhaussi 

Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago 

S. nigriventris

Papua New Guinea 

S. nigrolabris 

Indonesia (Sulawesi) 

S. nigrolineata

SE Papua New Guinea

?? B I

S. nitens 

Malaysia (Borneo, Sarawak)

?"

?? B I

S. oligolepis 

Papua New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. praesignis 

Blotched Forest Skink 

S Thailand, W Malaysia

?"

?? B I

S. pratti

Papua New Guinea, New Britain, New Hanover, Bismarck Archipelago

?"

?? B I

S. puncticentralis 

Indonesia (Java)

?"

?? B I

S. rarus 

W Panama

?"

?? B I

S. rufocaudatus 

Red-Tailed Ground Skink

Vietnam

?"

??

S. sabanus 

Sabah Slender Skink

Indonesia (Borneo)

4.5-5.5cm SVL (f), max 5cm SVL (m)

Differentiated by Inger from S. variegatus based on differences in scalation and coloration. Scalation details: 6 supraoculars, 15-16 supraciliaries; frontonasal and frontal sometimes meet and thus separate the prefrontals; 18-22 subdigital lamellae on 4^th toe; no auricular lobules. Dorsal scalation: 38-40 rows. Coloration: dark grey in life, brown to greyish-brown in alcohol; black labial bars usually wider than the interspaces; species lacks the black spot on the neck and black lateral stripe, both of which are found in S. variegatus; males in life have orange flush on flanks. [SOURCE: Inger 1958]. B I

S. sanctus 

Java Forest Skink 

Malaysia, Indonesia (Java, Sumatra)

?"

??. B I

S. s. sanctus

S. s. tenggeranus

S. sarasinorus 

Indonesia (Sulawesi)

?"

?? B I

S. schultzei 

Indonesia (Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea

?"

?? B I

S. scotophilus 

Selangor Forest Skink

S Thailand, W Malaysia

?"

?? B I

S. scutatus 

Palau Islands

?"

??. B I

S. shelfordi 

Indonesia (Borneo)

?"

?? B I

S. simus 

Indonesia (inc. Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea

?"

The new species S. melanopleurus described by Inger (1958) is considered a synonym of this species by the Reptile Database (see entry). B I

S. solomonis 

Indonesia (New Guinea and N Moluccas), Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands

?"

Includes the species formerly known as brevipes: see EMBL database entry for details. B I

S. steerei 

Steere's Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (inc. Mindanao, Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Negros, Mindoro and Luzon)

SVL 2½- 3½cm

Common slender species with rather long pointed snout and relatively short limbs. It is found on the floor of forests and secondary growth and in abaca and coconut groves. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact, frontoparietals fused, parietals undivided; 4 large supraoculars; posterior and anterior loreal; temporals distinctly enlarged. Dorsal scalation: 28-32 scale rows at midbody, 54-62 transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum moderately sunk. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally light- to reddish-brown with vertebral series of dark brown to blackish dashes; dorsolateral narrow, dark to black band from ear on to tail; labials brown with light spot; ventrally faint fleshy white to light tan. [SOURCE: Alcala] B I

S. stellatus 

Perak Forest Skink

Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia

?? B I

S. stickeli 

Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain, New Hanover, New Ireland

?"

?? B I

S. striatopunctatum 

Sri Lanka

SVL 4cm

S. striolatus 

Indonesia (Flores)

?"

??

S. tagapayo 

Aurora Mountain Skink

Philippines (SE Luzon)

?"

?? B I

S. taiwanensis 

C Taiwan

?"

?? B I

S. tanahtinggi 

Malaysia (Borneo, Sabah)

?"

?? B I

S. tanneri 

Solomon Islands, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago

?"

?? B I

S. taylori 

Solomon Islands (Bougainville)

?"

?? B I

S. temmincki 

Indonesia (Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra)

?"

?? B I

S. tenuiculus 

Malaysia (Borneo), Indonesia (Borneo)

?"

?? B I

S. transversus 

Solomon Islands

?"

Known only from a single specimen: see EMBL database entry. B I

S. tritaeniatus 

Vietnam

?"

?? B I

S. tropidonotus 

Indonesia (Sulawesi)

?"

??. B I

S. undulatus 

Indonesia (Irian Jaya), New Guinea, Solomon Islands 

S. vanheurni

Indonesia (Java) 

S. variegatus 

Black-Spotted Sphenomorphus 

Malaysia (Borneo), Philippines (inc. Sulu, Mindanao, Leyte and Bohol) 

SVL 5-7cm 

Rare forest species with short round snout found on the forest floor, along rocky stream banks and sometimes in tree trunks near the ground. Scalation details: prefrontals usually in contact (occasionally separated by an azygous shield); frontoparietals are distinct; 6 supraoculars; nuchals absent. Dorsal scalation: 38-46 rows at midboy, 64-75 dorsal transverse rows. Other: ear large, tympanum moderately sunken; 20-25 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally yellowish-brown to brown with 2 longitudinal rows of dusky brown or black spots from neck to tail base; neck has large black lateral spot which usually encloses a couple of white spots; lateral surfaces either same colour as back or may have irregular dark band or some darker blotches covering the posterior trunk and tail base; may also be a row of well separated small whitish dorsolateral spots. Ventrally yellowish to light fleshy white; labials have dark and light bars. [SOURCE: Alcala]B I  

S. victoria 

Philippines (Palawan)

?"

?? B I

S. wolfi 

Solomon Islands

?"

??. B I

S. woodfordi 

Solomon Islands (inc. Bougainville)

?"

?? B I

S. wrighti 

Wright's Sphenomorphus 

Philippines (Palawan)

SVL 7cm

Alcala in 1986 wrote that only 3 specimens of this species were available, and the EMBL database entry does not show any newer literature on the lizard since then. The snout was relatively short and rounded. It was found in forest areas. Scalation details: prefrontals in contact; frontparietals distinct; frontonasal divided by an almost median suture; 5 large supraoculars; nuchals absent. Dorsal scalation: 38-39 scale rows at midbody, 72-73 dorsal transverse rows. Other: 24-25 subdigital lamellae on 4th toe. Coloration (in preservative): dorsally light-brown to brown with a vertebral row of black spots; dorsolateral irregular dark line runing onto the tail and replaced anteriorly by some indistinct dark spots on the neck. Ventrally cream to light tan with vague darker markings on edge of head and neck. [SOURCE: Alcala]. B I

S. zimmeri 

Indonesia (Sulawesi)

?"

??