Skinks are characterised by their smooth, scaled skins, and small legs. Mainly terrestrial and diurnal, they are to be found basking in the sun along forest tracks or on tree trunks. 
  
The Many-lined or Common Sun Skink can be identified by the five or seven dark lines on its ventral surface parallel to its body line. Older, larger specimens are commonly found lacking the thick tail.

It inhabits primary and secondary forests, and is often found on the forest floor where the sun breaks through the canopy. However it can also be found close to villages, along river banks and in areas of rock outcrop.

The colour of the flanks can vary from an olive-brown (right) to a reddish-orange (upper left). Throat colour can vary from white to yellow (bottom left). It feeds mainly on insects and gives birth to live young. 

The species ranges from India, southern China, Burma, Thailand and Indochina down through Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, to Sumatra, Borneo, Java and other islands of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Mabuya multifasciata
Size (snout to vent) : 13 cm
Size (total length) : 35 cm

References : H1, H2

Top left : specimen exhibiting typical colouration, from a rocky stream at Gunung Pulai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.

Second left : examples from Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia.

Lower three photos : three examples amongst leaf litter and fallen trees in Singapore.