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Text and photos by Nick Baker, unless otherwise credited.
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Cryptoblepharus yulensis

 
 
 

Fig 1
 


Fig 2


Fig 3



 

 

 

 

Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Cryptoblepharus yulensis
Size (snout to vent) : 4.4 cm
Size (total length) : 5.0 cm

Cryptoblepharus yulensis, or Southern Snake-eyed Skink, is a small skink with a somewhat disjunct distribution. It is known to occur around Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, as well as Yule Island lying 100 kilometres to the northwest. It also occurs in one area of Western Province.

The name 'snake-eyed skink' derives from its lack of eyelids, but instead it possesses ocular scales (brilles) which protect the eye, rather like a snake.

The body and limbs are slender, and the head and eyes are small. 

The top of the head is copper-brown, and the dorsal surface is pale brown. The upper part of each flank possesses a thick, cream coloured stripe, and the flanks are dark.

It occurs in open, lowland woodland, including sparse fire-climax eucalypt forest created by manmade disturbance.

The specimen shown here was found amongst the hillside gardens of a building on the outskirts of Port Moresby.


Fig 1 : Specimen active in the noonday sun, low on a tree trunk.

Fig 2 : Typical open savannah and fire-climax woodland surrounding Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's capital.

Fig 3 : Close-up of the head and forelimbs.