Common Smooth-scaled Forest Skink – Scincella devorator – (Darevsky, Orlov & Cuc, 2004)

Science name: Scincella devorator – (Darevsky, Orlov & Cuc, 2004)

Taxonomic:  Animalia>> Chordata>> Reptilia>> Squamata >> Scincidae >> devorator

Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: LC (Least Concern)

Description:

Physical Characteristics:

Size: A medium-sized skink with slender body proportions. Females have a snout-vent length (SVL) between 51.2 mm and 53.9 mm, with a tail length of 65.7 mm.
Scales: The species is characterized by four supraoculars, 8 supraciliaries, and 7 supralabials. It has 30 midbody scale rows and 19 lamellae beneath the fourth toe. The vertebral scales on the neck are significantly broader than long.
External Features: No auricular lobules are present, and the tympanum (ear) is deeply sunken, a distinguishing feature. The limbs are short and do not overlap when the body is adpressed, and it has a pair of enlarged preanal scales.
Coloration and Appearance:
The dorsal coloration is bronze-brown, with two distinct silvery-grey stripes extending from the nape to the base of the tail, and a broad dark vertebral stripe. The body also features numerous small black spots around the lips and lateral regions. The ventral surface is pale cream, extending to the belly and tail.

Distribution and habitat:

Elevation:
The type locality of Scincella devorator is found at elevations between 300 and 1,590 meters above sea level, primarily in Uong Bi, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam.

Area:
This species is known from northeastern Vietnam, particularly from Quang Ninh and Son La provinces. It has been recorded in areas such as Yen Tu Mountain in Uong Bi, Copia Nature Reserve in Son La, and the western side of Yen Tu Mountain in Luc Nam, Bac Giang Province. It inhabits both primary and secondary forests, suggesting some adaptability to disturbed habitats.

Habitat:
Scincella devorator is typically found in mid-hill primary forests and secondary forests, where it inhabits forest floors and crevices among rocks. It is an arboreal species, often found on tree trunks and is known to feed on arboreal grasshoppers of the genus Gigantettix. The species thrives in subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests.

Behaviour and ecology:

Lifestyle:
Scincella devorator is diurnal and arboreal, often found on tree trunks where it hunts for prey. Its primary diet consists of grasshoppers and other invertebrates, which it captures by biting off their abdomens, allowing the rest of the prey to escape, a unique feeding behavior that inspired its Latin name, meaning “devourer.”

Reproduction:
This skink is oviparous, laying eggs, but details about clutch size, reproductive cycles, or incubation periods are not well-documented.

Conservation and status:

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria:
Scincella devorator is listed as Data Deficient due to limited data on its population, distribution, and threats. It was last assessed in 2017, and further research is necessary to clarify its conservation needs.

Population Trend:
The population trend of Scincella devorator is currently unknown, and no data is available regarding its population stability or fragmentation.

Threats:
The primary threats to Scincella devorator are likely habitat loss and forest degradation, particularly in its mid-hill forest habitats. Forest clearing and agricultural expansion pose significant risks, though the species’ presence in both primary and secondary forests suggests some adaptability to disturbed environments.

Conservation Actions:
No specific conservation measures are currently in place for Scincella devorator. However, the species may benefit from habitat protection in areas like Copia Nature Reserve and Yen Tu Mountain. Additional studies on its population status, ecology, and threats are essential to develop targeted conservation strategies.

Etymology
The species name devorator comes from the Latin word “devorare,” meaning “to devour,” referring to the skink’s unique feeding behavior. It is known to bite off the abdomen of its prey, typically grasshoppers, while allowing the rest of the body to escape.