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

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. 
  
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 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.

The body scales bear 3 raised ridges, or keels, which can be seen in close-up.

The colour of the flanks can vary from olive-brown to reddish-orange. Throat colour can vary from white to yellow. It feeds mainly on insects and gives birth to live young. 

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

Fig 1 : Example with red and yellow-gold throat, at Khao Yai, Thailand.

Fig 2  : Example with typical brown colouration, next to a rocky stream at Gunung Pulai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.

Fig 3 : Example with red flanks, from Singapore's central forests.

Fig 4 : Example from Cat Ba Island, Vietnam.

Fig 5 : Example from Bali, Indonesia, with yellow flanks. This represents the subspecies called Eutropis multifasciata balinensis.

Fig 6 : Young adult, measuring around 6 cm snout-to-vent.  Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Fig 7 : Example from Luang Prabang, northern Laos.


References :

Cox, van Dijk, Nabhitabhata, Thirakhupt, 1998. A photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. New Holland.