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Pale-lipped shadeskink

Saproscincus spectabilis

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-28.221, 153.206

Field Notes

Description:

The Pale-lipped shadeskink or gully skink is a small skink in the genus Saproscincus. Saproscincus means 'rotten skink', in reference to their use of decaying leaf-litter as a microhabitat.

Habitat:

Lamington Range National Park. Spotted near the Lower Ballanjui Falls and flooded gums. The park comprises Australia's largest remnant sub-tropical rainforest.

Notes:

Snout-to-vent length 6 cm in average.
Oviparous.
Found in Northern NSW and Southern Queensland.
Third picture is of a second specimen.

Reference Links:

Pale-lipped shadeskink (Saproscincus spectabilis) at the Australian Reptile Onl…

Species ID Suggestions

pale-lipped shadeskink, gully skink

Saproscincus spectabilis

Reference Link
Scott Frazier
1

Comments (7)
DanielePralong
Thanks for your input Scott and Stephen! Searching further I think it could be what is referred to in the specialized literature as mite pocket structures (acarodomatia). These infestations seem generally confined to the forelimb axillary regions.
StephenSolomons
ticks often hide near the arm pits like that, great lizards!
Scott Frazier
I noticed the orange bodies but I thought "ectoparasites" rather than something "of the skink". They don't really fit the texture of the skink...I've not found them though on any other images of other species...except a faint possibility here http://www.natureswindow.dk/Saproscincus%20spectabilis.html all the way down. Looking at the "pale-lips" though, I think yours looks more like spectabilis :-)
DanielePralong
Thanks Shanna! Interesting question! I have 2 differenst specimen here and they are present behind the shoulder on both. I first thought these could be red scales which are shedding but looking close I wouldn't think so. Quickly searching for images of this species I found none with these but I do see these on another species of Saproscincus: Saproscincus challengeri: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58749162@N05/7023029305 http://www.flickr.com/photos/23031163@N03/3605655981/ So... do we have the right species? Is this maybe fungal or parasitic?
ShannaB
Cutie. I wonder what the orange things in the armpit are?
DanielePralong
Thanks for the ID Scott. Unfortunate but appropriate name for the genus!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wilds of South-East Queensland
Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
2013 Best Wildlife Photo

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Photographed
PublishedApril 26, 2013

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