The southern whiptailed skink (''Tropidoscincus variabilis'') 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 ...

skink Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Ski ...

found in

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

. Tropidoscincus variabilis is a medium-sized, long-limbed and long-tailed skink with strong

ontogenetic Ontogeny (also ontogenesis) is the origination and development of an organism (both physical and psychological, e.g., moral development), usually from the time of fertilization of the egg to adult. The term can also be used to refer to the st ...

change in coloration. They are more brightly colored as juveniles. They live primarily in forests and

heathlands A heath () is a shrubland habitat (ecology), habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great B ...

. 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 invertebrates, particularly spiders and crickets. Juveniles eat more spiders, bugs and isopods than adults. 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. https://brill.com/view/journals/amre/30/2/article-p207_4.xml?lang=en

References

Tropidoscincus Reptiles described in 1869 Skinks of New Caledonia Endemic fauna of New Caledonia Taxa named by Arthur René Jean Baptiste Bavay {{Skink-stub