Tropidoscincus variabilis

The southern whiptailed skink (Tropidoscincus variabilis) is a species of skink found in New Caledonia.[2] Tropidoscincus variabilis is a medium-sized, long-limbed and long-tailed skink with strong ontogenetic change in coloration. They are more brightly colored as juveniles. They live primarily in forests and heathlands. Mature males and females are roughly the same size, but females have longer bodies, shorter heads and limbs, and a less brightly orange venter.Females lay 2-4 eggs in summer, and young hatch in late summer. More than one year of growth is required to attain maturity. They eat a large variety of invertibrates, particularly spiders and crickets. Juveniles eat more spiders, bugs and isopods than adults. [3]

Tropidoscincus variabilis

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Tropidoscincus
Species:
T. variabilis
Binomial name
Tropidoscincus variabilis
(Bavay, 1869)

References

  1. Whitaker, A.H. & Sadlier, R.A. 2011. Tropidoscincus variabilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T176162A7190482. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T176162A7190482.en. Downloaded on 01 April 2020.
  2. Tropidoscincus variabilis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 September 2019.
  3. Sadlier, R., Bauer, A., Jourdan, H., & Shea, G. (2009). Natural history of the New Caledonian whiptailed skink Tropidoscincus variabilis (Bavay, 1869) (Squamata: Scincidae), Amphibia-Reptilia, 30(2), 207-220. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/156853809788201081 https://brill.com/view/journals/amre/30/2/article-p207_4.xml?lang=en
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