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Text and photos by Nick Baker, unless credited to others.
Copyright © Ecology Asia 2025

 
     
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   
   
 
Rough-scaled Brown Skink 
Eutropis rudis
   
   

Fig 1


Fig 2
 

Fig 3
 

Fig 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family : SCINCIDAE
Species : Eutropis rudis
Size (snout to vent) : 12 cm
Size (total length) : 34 cm

This moderately large skink is terrestrial in habits, and occurs in lowland primary and secondary rainforests up to 700 metres in elevation (possibly higher in Borneo). It can also adapt to drier, heavily disturbed secondary habitats. As with other 'sun skinks' it may be found basking in the sun in forest clearings.

The species is best identified by its robust body form, the broad pale-edged dark brown stripe along the top of each flank (which can sometimes be stippled rather than a thick band) ,and the pale belly. Adult male specimens can have highly varied throat colours ranging from blue with black spots, to reddish or yellowish.

The dorsal scales bear 3 markedly-raised keels, or raised ridges, which give the skink its rough-skinned appearance.

It feeds on a wide variety of forest floor invertebrates including various insects.   

The Rough-scaled Brown Skink ranges from Sumatra, Borneo and adjacent smaller islands to Sulawesi and parts of the southern Philippines.


Fig 1 : Adult consuming a spider at Niah Caves National Park, Sarawak, Borneo.

Figs 2 and 3 : Two more examples from Niah Caves National Park, Sarawak, Borneo - one with a yellow throat speckled with black and the other with a bluish throat. In both these examples the broad, dark stripe on the flanks is muted.

Fig 4 : Adult sunning itself whilst gripping onto the fissured bark of a large tree.  Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.


References :

Inger R. F., Lian T.F., 1996. The Natural History of Amphibians and Reptiles in Sabah. Natural History Publications (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd.

Manthey U., Grossmann W., 1997. Amphibien und Reptilien Sudostasiens. Natur und Tier - Verlag.