Sphenomorphus indicus (Gray, 1853)
Indian Forest Skink 銅蜓蜥
Suborder
Lacertilia 蜥蜴亞目
A black dorso-lateral stripe runs from eye to the hind leg on each side.
Highly resembles Brown Forest Skink (S. incognitus). The two species have to be separated with care.
1)S. indicus is slightly smaller in snout-vent legnth than S. incognitus, but it is not a good character for separating juvenile.
2) Separated from S. incognitus by the absence of enlarged scale in the back of thigh.
3) Upper edge of the dorso-lateral stripe is smooth in S. indicus, while jagged in S. ingonitus.
4) Dorsally, S. indicus is uniformly brown, while in S. incognitus is bronze speckled with light and dark spots.
5) Underside creamy yellow in S. indicus, while whitish in S. incognitus.
Both species has smooth scales.
The two species was confused in the past. Early record of the two species from Hong Kong must be treated with caution.
The picture of S. indicus in Karsen et al (1998) is actually S. incognitus.
Reference: Lau, M.W.N. (2005) The occurrence of Sphenomorphus incognitus in Hong Kong with notes on its diagnostic features and distribution. Porcupine! 32:9-10
Sympatric with S. incognitus, both prefer good forest.
Two species separated in microhabitat.
S. indicus more frequently found inside forest and on forest path.
S. incognitus prefers riparian forest, often seen basking on stream bank.
Occurs in South China, Bhutan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, from India-east to Indo-China and Malaysia and Bangladesh.
