Eutropis+multifasciata

// **Eutropis multifasciata** // ** (Kuhl, 1820) ** **Many-lined Sun Skink** toc

= __Basic information__ =

//Eutropis multifasciata// is a skink belonging to the family //Scincidae//. It is not a true lizard, having not distinguishable neck. It is native throughout many Asian countries, including Singapore. Being non-venomous and diurnal in nature, it is an active animal and eats mainly invertebrates.

**Name **
**Binomial:** //Eutropis multifasciata//

**English**: East Indian Brown Mabuya, Common Sun Skink, Many-lined Sun Skink, Many-striped Skink or Golden Skink. **German**: Vielstreifenmabuye
 * Vernacular (Common Name): **

**Etymology **
The genus //Eutropis// refers to the Asian skinks found throughout Asia. For the species name, //multi// means “many” or “numerous” and //fasciata// or //fasciatus// means “banded”. Thus, the species is aptly named after the longitudinal lines formed by its spots and coloured scales.





Video showing how //E.multifasciata// moves, at normal and slow motion speeds. media type="youtube" key="IQT3RXtC0sU" height="315" width="560" align="center"

**Conservation**
At present, the conservation status of // E.multifasciata // has yet to be evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) [|Red list]. Being in the pet trade and an invasive species in other countries, it is likely that it faces no significant conservation threats at present. Although widespread, it may still be affected by habitat destruction, especially in more urbanized areas.

**Pet Trade**
In the United States, //E.multifasciata// is kept as a pet and many people do rear them as one. Being relatively inexpensive and hardy, they can be easily kept in a medium-sized tank or vivarium, though they may contain internal parasites. They are available for sale in many pet shops or exotic pet stores; online stores provide delivery as well as tips on how to care for them. While this may teach people more about the animal and to care for them, this pet trade stands for a potential risk in their introduction into ecosystems non-native to the reptiles and cause them to become invasive.

**//E.multifasciata// in Singapore**
The Many-lined Sun Skink is native to Singapore. It is common and widespread in many areas - forested areas, mangroves, grasslands and also can be seen in more urbanised areas such as nature/town parks as well. Of course, they thrive in protected areas like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR), Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. In the daytime, especially morning, people can usually see these skinks basking in the open or along hiking trails on rocks, logs or simply on the ground. They are active animals and tend to run off when approached. However, if you do see them, please do not attempt to catch them or stress them, as this may cause them to shed their tail in defense which will be detrimental to them! Just observe and take nothing but photographs! If it is necessary to handle them, please do take caution as they do have teeth and may bite! In Singapore, the keeping of //E.multifasciata// as a pet is prohibited by the [|Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore] (AVA). Similarly, its import for sale and distribution by pet shops is also not allowed. Video of Sun Skink basking. media type="youtube" key="VktFLIzoKs8" height="360" width="480" align="center"

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= __ **Biology** __ =

** Habitat & Behavior **
// E.multifasciata // is a diurnal species and are mainly terrestrial, inhabiting primary and secondary lowland forests, grasslands, mangroves and clearings with vegetation. Being reptiles, they are ectotherms (cold-blood) and are poikilothermic; their internal body temperature can vary over a wide range. As such, they can often be found basking in the sun during daytime and shelters on the ground amidst the leaf litter, rotting logs or in tree holes. They are agile animals and can move through the leaf littler and forest floor quickly, making them at times difficult to follow or to even see. They seek shelter during inclement weather as well.





**Feeding habits**
// E.multifasciata // is carnivorous and its diet consists of mainly invertebrates. They feed on insects like crickets, grasshoppers, worms, beetles, spiders, caterpillars and even smaller reptiles and small [|frogs]. They seem to be attracted to the movement of the prey, capturing and shaking the prey before swallowing it.

Video on //E.multifasiciata// eating mealworms. media type="youtube" key="XHpEpuGxwPA" height="360" width="480"

**Reproduction**
//E.multifasciata// are ovoviviparous skinks; they undergo internal fertilisation and the fertilised eggs are retained in the mother's body and the embryos obtain nutrients from the egg yolk. They thus give birth to live young, in clutch sizes of 2-8 young each time and usually bear offspring during May and June.

Studies have shown that their body temperature actually affects the gestation period; females with higher gestation temperatures tend to give birth earlier than those at a lower gestation temperature as higher temperatures enabled the embryos to develop at a faster rate. During the course of pregnancy, the females' loco-motor (movement) and feeding performances are affected and the degree to which these were impaired is related to the temperature as well. At 30°C, feeding performance is more affected than loco-motor performance whereas inversely, the degree of loco-motor impairment is larger than feeding performance impairment at 26°C. Also, it seem s that the optimal gestation temperature that produces healthy young while minimizing the feeding and loco-motor costs that pregnancy brings is at 29°C. At this temperature, the young can also be born in a relative short time.

**Autotomy**
When approached by predators, //E.multifasciata// usually scurries and runs away into the leaf litter or even burrowing into the substrate using its strong limbs. However, like most skinks, it can break off its own tail when it is grabbed hold of by predators. This process of amputation is a self-defense mechanism aimed at distracting and escaping from predator and is termed 'autotomy'. More specifically, the process of shedding its tail is called 'caudal autotomy'. The severed tail is able to wriggle and distract the predator, giving the skink time to run away.

The tail is regenerative and will grow back over time. But the regrown tail is different from the original, in that it is usually of a darker coloration and texture. Also, the new tail is without bony vertebrae and do not resemble the old tail in its scale patterns.

Studies have shown that caudal autotomy in //E.multifasciata// imposes substantial costs on the skink; the tail is an energy store for the skink and naturally when the tail is shed, the skink loses its storage of energy. This increases the chances of starvation for the skink as well as future predation since tail-less skinks cannot use the same method of escape anymore. Loss of the tail also resulted in a decrease in swimming speed but interestingly enough, it seems that tail-less //E.multifasciata// do not increase its rate of feeding to compensate for the tail loss.

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= __**Description**__ =

**Characteristics**
Adult // Eutropis multifasciata // have the general characteristics below :
 * A medium to large sized robust cylindrical body shape and medium sized tails. They can grow to a total length of 36cm with a snout vent length (SVL) of 11-14cm.
 * Strong developed fore and hind limbs with 5 digits each; pentadactyl. These allow the skink its agility and fast movements.
 * Uniform cycloid scales overlaying osteoderms (bony plates in the dermal layer).
 * Head surface covered with larger subimbricate scales (shields) in a symmetrical arrangement.
 * Scaly lower eyelid. The lower eyelid has palpebral scales which are absent at the upper eyelid.
 * Dorsal scales are keeled, usually distinctly tricarinate (three-ridged), but can tend towards quinquecarinate (five-ridged), though rarely. Keeled scales, as opposed to smooth scales, are rough as they have a ridge running down the scales.
 * Lateral scales can be tricarinate as well, but usually become less keeled as they progress ventrally. On the ventral side, the scales are smooth and unkeeled.
 * The pterygoid bears pterygoid teeth. They also have small pleurodont teeth, which are teeth that are fused to the inner side of the jaws.
 * Relatively large auricular opening with deeply sunken tympanum.
 * 26 presacral vertebrae in the vertebral column.



**Coloration**
The body coloration of //E.multifasciata// usually ranges from bronze brown to olive brown to dark brown due to the uniformly colored scales on their dorsal surface (back). Their body seems slightly iridescent as the keels and scales reflect light. There is, however, sexual dimorphism between the male and female skinks, expressed in the color variation. The juveniles have the scale pattern as the adults, but the sexual dimorphic coloration may not be so distinct as the adults.

** In Males: ** For the male gender, they are mostly of a plain colour laterally, from the auricular opening to the hind limbs. Some males instead have a red, orange or yellow stripe that are located laterally along the body to the groin or at the anterior of the body or forelimbs. Some males also possess white spots on their laterally side, usually occurring in males with plain flanks. Their ventral side is generally yellow but can be pale grey at the throat and chin areas.

**In Females:** For the female gender, the median scales on their dorsal surface can be bordered by small black spots and these spots generally are lined up to form the appearance of thin, long black lines across their dorsal surface. The females may also have red or orange banding on their lateral sides as well. The main distinct difference from the males is that the females have many white spots (ocelli) that are edged distinctly by black colouration. These spots can be spread randomly along their flanks to the base of the tail (Note the difference in the white spots between the female below and the male above).



**Original Description**
Original description describes the identifying characteristics and morphology of a certain species when it is discovered for the first time. It is important, together with the holotype specimen (if existing), to provide a set of features by which for accurate assessment and identification of future suspect specimens. //E.multifasciata// was first described by Heinrich Kuhl in 1820, in //[|Beitäge zur Zoologie und vergleichenden Anatomie von Heinrich Kuhl].// Below is the original description by him in German, as well as a direct translation to English using [|Google Translate]. It should be noted that the direct English translation may not be 100% accurate or fully representative of the meaning in the original description. **Original description in German :** media type="custom" key="11285434" **Direct translation in English:** media type="custom" key="11285428" Back to top

= __**Distribution **__ =

It is native to Asia but it has been introduced to various countries via anthropogenic means. Currently it ranges from Taiwan, Hainan, Guangdong and Yunnan (South China) across Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, C ambodia and Vietnam to India and down to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Guinea.

In the United States of America, it has also been introduced to Florida since the 1990s. At present, it has already established a stable breeding population in The Kampong, Miami-Dade County. Initially, it was thought that the pathway through which it was introduced was the pet trade. However, recently this invasive pathway has been revised to cargo instead of pet trade as the area specializes in plants import from native places of //E.multifasciata.

// In Taiwan, //E.multifasciata// was the first recorded non-native skink species, found in the Kaohsiung County in 1992. They are suspected to be introduced when logs from Java was imported.



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= __ **Taxonomic Information** __  =

** Scientific Classification **
** Kingdom: ** Animalia ** Phylum: ** Chordata ** Class: ** Reptilia ** Order: ** Squamata **Suborder:** Sauria ** Family: ** Scincidae **Subfamily:** Lygosominae ** Genus: ** Eutropis ** Species: **// multifasciata (Kuhl, 1820) //

//** Subspecies: **// Eutropis multifasciata balinensis //(Mertens, 1930)// Eutropis multifasciata tjendikianensis //(Mertens, 1956)//

**Synonyms**
Knowledge of synonyms of a species can help people to identify organisms and be able to associate it with the official nomenclature. Since first described, //E.multifasciata// has had several binomial names:

- //Scincus multifasciata// Kuhl, 1820. - //Mabuya multifasciata// Fitzinger, 1826. - *//Gongylus sebae// Duméril & Bibron, 1839. - //Plestiodon sikkimensis// Gray, 1853. - //Tropidolepisma macrurus// Bleeker, 1860. - //Eutropis multifasciata// Mausfeld et. al., 2003.

*//Gongylus sebae// Duméril & Bibron, 1839 is the type species of the genus //Eutropis//. Type locality: Batavia.

**Type Information**
The Holotype information for //E.multifasciata// was not found, but the [|Global Biodiversity Information Facility] provides information on other specimen collections of the species in various museums and institutions. Holotype information is important as knowledge of where the original specimen that is designated as the Holotype can enable taxonomists to verify and compare other specimens to correctly identify them.

**Change in Genus**
Mausfeld //et al//. (2002) showed in a phylogenetic analysis by using 859 bp of the mitochondrial 16S and the 12S rRNA genes that the genus //Mabuya// actually consists of several evolutionary lineages and monophylectic clades. Thus, the genus //Mabuya// was partitioned into 4 separate genera :

(1) //Mabuya// Fitzinger, 1826 - refers to the South American species group. (2) //Eutropis// Fitzinger, 1843 - refers to the Asian species group. (3) //Euprepis// Wagler, 1830 - refers to the Afro-Malagasy species group. (4) //Chioninia// Gray, 1845 - refers to the Cape Verdian Island species group.

Note: Even though //Eutropis multifasciata// is currently the accepted name for the species, but the old genus //Mabuya// still remains widely used as Greer //et al//. (2004) indicated not all authors have in agreement the acceptance of this new taxonomy due to limited taxon sampling by Mausfeld //et al//. .

**Phylogeny**
Mausfeld //et al.// (2003) used DNA information from the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA genes to study the genus //Eutropis// Fitzinger and constructed phylogenetic trees (Below) using //Scelotes mirus// as the outgroup, showing that //E.multifasciata// forms a well-supported monophyletic clade and that all present populations most likely have evolved from one common ancestor. The bootstrap proportions >50% are not shown. He also refuted the subspecies status of //Eutropis multifasciata balinensis// due to insignificant genetic differences between //E. m. balinensis// and the Javanese nominotypical //E.multifasciata// population.

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=__ **Links to other relevant pages** __= [|German Name (Universal Biological Indexer and Organizer)] [|Encyclopedia of Life] [|Global Diversity Information Facility] [|Taxonomic Information (NCBI)]

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=__ **Literature and References** __=

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= __**Comments**__ = media type="custom" key="11331100"

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