SUMMARY
PREVALENCE: Common
ACTIVE PERIOD: Diurnal
KEY ID FEATURES: Black body with four light brown stripes and vibrant blue tail
BEHAVIOR: Found in forested locations around Hong Kong at mid to high elevation
SIZE: 18 - 20 cm
IUCN: LC - Least Concerned
RANGE
GALLERY
IMPORTANT: Many skinks look similar and require experience to identify. Skinks also drop their tails readily if handled which is a stressful and energy intensive issue, so great care should be taken when interacting with these lizards in Hong Kong.
DESCRIPTION
The four-lined blue-tailed kink is a relatively common species, and can be encountered on trails and forest adjacent roads during the day. They are ~18 - 20 cm in total length. They have black bodies with four light brown stripes running from the snout to the tail on the dorsum. The head is often light orange or red in adults and bright orange in juveniles. This orange coloration is also on teh light stripes at the on the head, transitioning to light brown on the body and blue by the tail.
The venter is white or light orange under the chin changing to mottled black and white by the belly, adn black and blue underr the tail.
BEHAVIOR
The four-lined blue-tailed skink is diurnal, often seen out on trail edges. slopes or rocks in the early morning and late afternoon. They tend to live and forage in the leaf litter, taking shelter under rocks and logs at night at during inclement weather. They feed on small invertebrates. Defensively, as with most skinks, they can readily drop their tails if attacked of harassed.
HABITAT
The species is regularly found in forested areas at mid to high elevation, though can occasionally be found at lower elevations.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
The four-lined blue-tailed skink looks similar to the five-lined blue-tailed skink and the Vietnamese skink. It differs from teh five-lined skink by the obvious lack of a fifth stripe down the middle of the dorsum. The Vietnamese skink is more similar in appearance and requires a closer look to determine the species.