Photographed at Pulau Gaya, Tungku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Sabah,
Borneo.
Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Apterygodon vittatum
Size (snout to vent) : 10 cm
Size (total length) : 21 cm
References : H1, H3 |
A handsome species, the
Striped Tree Skink is found only in Borneo. It occurs in both primary and
secondary forests and in coastal areas. It rarely comes to ground, except to
bury its 2 to 4 eggs under the soil (it is also known to bury its eggs
amongst epiphytes high in the trees). Its preferred niche is to forage
around tree trunks for insects.
The
species is easily identified by its black and white striped head and neck,
and its olive-brown body covered with pale flecks. The species can be quite
bold - the adult in the photograph was seen close to a resort area off the
coast of Sabah.
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