Lygosoma veunsaiense

Lygosoma veunsaiense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Lygosoma
Species:
L. veunsaiense
Binomial name
Lygosoma veunsaiense

Lygosoma veunsaiense is a species of skink that is endemic to northeastern Cambodia.[2][3] Its description as a new species was published in 2012, receiving both local and international publicity.[4][5][6][7]

Discovery

In 2010, at the remote rainforest area of Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia a Fauna and Flora International herpetologist, Thy Neang, first discovered Lygosoma veunsaiense.[6] Peter Geissler from Museum Koenig in Germany, was one of the authors who described the skink.[7]

Description

This type of lizard has iridescent rainbow skin with a long tail and short legs.[6] The outer ear opening is absent; supranasals distinct and separated from each other by frontonasal; supranasals not fused with nasals; midbody scales in 22 rows; fontoparietals paired; five supralabial scales; a light stripe present on outer edge of the dorsum; and a dark dorsolateral stripe present, from behind the eye to the tail.[2]

Habitat

Lygosoma veunsaiense spends most of its life underground in the rainforest.[8]

References

  1. ^ Neang, T. (2018). "Lygosoma veunsaiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T14669579A14669699. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T14669579A14669699.en. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Geissler, Peter; Timo Hartmann; Thy Neang (2010). "A new species of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae) from northeastern Cambodia, with an updated identification key to the genus Lygosoma in mainland Southeast Asia". Zootaxa. 3190: 56–68. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3190.1.4.
  3. ^ Lygosoma veunsaiense at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 25 January 2015.
  4. ^ Phnom Penh Post: Unknown lizard unearthed
  5. ^ Conservation International: Iridescent Lizard Discovered in Northeastern Cambodia
  6. ^ a b c Ottawa Citizen: New rainbow lizard discovered in Cambodia
  7. ^ a b Fauna-Flora.org: Shiny new lizard discovered in northeast Cambodia
  8. ^ Global Post: Cambodia's newest species discovery: a stumpy-legged rainbow lizard

Data related to Lygosoma veunsaiense at Wikispecies