''Silvascincus tryoni'', the Border Ranges blue-spectacled skink or forest skink, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of lizard in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Scincidae. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the McPherson Range bordering New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.

Etymology

The specific name, ''tryoni'', is in honor of English scientist Henry Tryon (1856–1943).Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Eulamprus tryoni'', p. 268).

Description

This species can grow to in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the most c ...

. It has well-defined, dark transverse dorsal markings on light to mid-brown background.

Reproduction

''Silvascincus tryoni'' is

viviparous Among animals, viviparity is development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. This is opposed to oviparity which is a reproductive mode in which females lay developing eggs that complete their development and hatch externally from the m ...

. A female measuring in snout–vent length and in total length gave birth to five young measuring in snout–vent length.

Habitat and conservation

''Silvascincus tryoni'' occurs in highland closed subtropical rainforest at elevations of

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...

. Specimens have been found on logs and rocks, under decayed logs, and sunning at the base of a hollow giant stinging tree '' Dendrocnide excelsa''. When disturbed, they seek refuge under rocks and logs. ''Silvascincus tryoni'' might be at least locally common. Its range is small but coincides, perhaps entirely, with protected areas, including

Lamington A lamington is an Australian cake made from squares of butter cake or sponge cake coated in an outer layer of chocolate sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut. The thin mixture is absorbed into the outside of the sponge cake and left to set, gi ...

and

Border Ranges National Park The Border Ranges National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. A small portion of the national park is also located in South East Queensland. The park is situated approxi ...

s. It is unlikely to be facing any major threats.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3060332, from2=Q43334814 Silvascincus Skinks of Australia Reptiles of New South Wales Reptiles of Queensland Endemic fauna of Australia Reptiles described in 1918 Taxa named by Albert Heber Longman Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN