SUMMARY

• PREVALENCE: Common

• ACTIVE PERIOD: Diurnal

• KEY ID FEATURES: Brown body with black stripe down the side and dark orange underside of the tail

• BEHAVIOR: Found in forested locations around Hong Kong at mid to high elevation

• SIZE: 8cm

• 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 slender forest skink is a relatively common species, but due to its diminutive size and propensity to live in leaf litter, it is a less common encoutner. They are ~8cm in total length with a light brown dorsum, which helps them blend in to thier surroundings. They have a black dorsolateral stripe running from the tip of the snout, through the eye and down most the length of the tail, assuming the tail has not been regenerated. The flanks are light brown.

The venter is characteristically yellow from the neck to the cloaca. The chin is white with opaque mottling. The tail is perhaps most characteristic with its deep orange coloration.

BEHAVIOR

The long-tailed skink is most often diurnally active, but can be found at night. 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 srop 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 slender forest skink looks similar to the Reeves smooth skink. Male Reeves smooth skins have red flanks and light orange undersides of the tail. Female Reeves have a white venter and underside to the tail.