Lygosoma veunsaiensis

Lygosoma veunsaiensis is a species of skink that is endemic to northeastern Cambodia.[2][3] Its description as a new species was published in 2012, receiving both local and international publicity.[4][5][6][7]

Lygosoma veunsaiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Lygosoma
Species:
L. veunsaiensis
Binomial name
Lygosoma veunsaiensis
Geissler, Hartmann, and Neang, 2012[2]

Discovery

In 2010, at the remote rainforest area of Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia a Fauna and Flora International herpetologist, Thy Neang, first discovered Lygosoma veunsaiensis.[6] Peter Geissler from Museum Koenig in Germany, was one of the authors who described the skink.[7]

Description

This type of lizard has iridescent rainbow skin with a long tail and short legs.[6] The outer ear opening is absent; supranasals distinct and separated from each other by frontonasal; supranasals not fused with nasals; midbody scales in 22 rows; fontoparietals paired; five supralabial scales; a light stripe present on outer edge of the dorsum; and a dark dorsolateral stripe present, from behind the eye to the tail.[2]

Habitat

Lygosoma veunsaiensis spends most of its life underground in the rainforest.[8]

References
  1. Neang, T. 2018. Lygosoma veunsaiensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T14669579A14669699. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T14669579A14669699.en. Downloaded on 04 April 2020.
  2. Geissler, Peter; Timo Hartmann & Thy Neang (2010). "A new species of the genus Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 (Squamata: Scincidae) from northeastern Cambodia, with an updated identification key to the genus Lygosoma in mainland Southeast Asia". Zootaxa. 3190: 56–68.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. Lygosoma veunsaiensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 25 January 2015.
  4. Phnom Penh Post: Unknown lizard unearthed
  5. Conservation International: Iridescent Lizard Discovered in Northeastern Cambodia
  6. Ottawa Citizen: New rainbow lizard discovered in Cambodia
  7. Fauna-Flora.org: Shiny new lizard discovered in northeast Cambodia
  8. Global Post: Cambodia's newest species discovery: a stumpy-legged rainbow lizard

Data related to Lygosoma veunsaiensis at Wikispecies

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