''Tytthoscincus temasekensis'', common name Singapore swamp 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
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 ...
s belonging to the family
Scincidae.
Etymology
The species name ''temasekensis'' derives from the word meaning 'Sea Town' in Old Javanese, an ancient name of a settlement in Singapore. As the Latin suffix means 'from a place', the epithet ''temasekensis'' can be translated ''from Singapore''.
[The Reptile Database]
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Distribution
This uncommon species is present in Singapore, and in restricted areas of the Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...
.[
]
Habitat
''Singapore swamp skink'' occurs in freshwater swamp forest, in peat swamp areas and close to shallow streams.[
]
Description
''Tytthoscincus temasekensis'' can reach a total body length of about . These small skinks have an elongate and dorso-ventrally flattened body, with smooth scales. Limbs and feet are tiny, short and slender. Its dorsal basic colour is dark brown, with a pale line from the head to the end of the tail. The abdomen is pale brownish. Young skinks are pale brown and slightly pinkish.[Ecology Asia]
/ref>[Grismer, L. L., Wood Jr, P. L., Lim, K. K., & Liang, L. J. (2017)]
A new species of swamp-dwelling skink (Tytthoscincus) from Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 65, 574-584.
/ref>
Behavior
These skinks are skilled swimmers and very elusive. Usually they hide amongst or beneath leaf litter next to streams or swamps.[
]
References
External links
The Biodiversity of Singapore
Lizards of Asia
Tytthoscincus
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