Eutropis longicaudata (Hallowell, 1856)
Long-tailed Skink 長尾南蜥

Eutropis longicaudata
Order
Suborder
Squamata 有鱗目
Lacertilia 蜥蜴亞目
Family Scincidae 石龍子科
Genus Eutropis
Species Eutropis longicaudata
Other name -
Chinese name -
Total length Total length up to 40 cm; snout-vent length 10 - 14 cm.
Description Body tan or reddish-brown; with dark brown stripe on each side, which extends from eye to hind leg.
Both juveniles and adults may have faint black spotting or striping dorsally.
Underside greenish yellow or yellow. Head rather long. Labials yellow with black barring.
Lower flanks whitish, tinged with green, thickly speckled with brown.
Legs brown. Tail very long and whip-like; with keeled scales. Mid-dorsal scales keeled.
Habitat

Occurs in many areas of the territory, up to at least 500 m.
Prefers dry hilly areas with tall grass or shrubland and many large boulders.

Behaviour Mostly diurnal. A sun-loving lizard, often seen basking on boulders or retaining walls.
Occasionally wanders about on warm nights. An extremely swift lizard; very alert and nervous.
When alarmed, scurries rapidly over rocks into a crevice or thick undergrowth. Often bites when restrained.
Diet Feeds on large insects such as crickets and grasshoppers as well as earthworms.
Reproduction Oviparous. Breeds in spring and lays up to 16 eggs under rocks or in holes in walls, often alongside those of geckoes.
Eggs oval in shape, about 1.8 cm long. They hatch in 1.5 months. Hactchlings about 8-10.5 cm in total length.
Huang (2006) studied the population in Orchid Island, Taiwan and shows that female attends her eggs and defends them from predator such as snake.
No evidence of parental care in the populations of Hong Kong.

Reference: Huang W.S. 2006. Parental care in the long-tailed skink, Mabuya longicaudata, on a tropical Asian island. Animal Behaviour. 72(4): 791-795.
Distribution Quite widespread in Hong Kong and fairly common in some areas of the New Territories. Also present on a number of small islands (Cheung Chau). In the Sokos is known from several tiny islets. Extends from extreme southern China including Taiwan, to Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status IUCN Redlist: NE (Not Evaluated)
Eutropis longicaudata Eutropis longicaudata Eutropis longicaudata Eutropis longicaudata Eutropis longicaudata Eutropis longicaudata
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