Lygosoma veunsaiense 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 veunsaiense | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Lygosoma |
| Species: | L. veunsaiense
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| Binomial name | |
| Lygosoma veunsaiense | |
Discovery
editIn 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 veunsaiense.[6] Peter Geissler from Museum Koenig in Germany, was one of the authors who described the skink.[7]
Description
editThis 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
editLygosoma veunsaiense spends most of its life underground in the rainforest.[8]
References
edit- ^ Neang, T. (2018). "Lygosoma veunsaiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T14669579A14669699. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T14669579A14669699.en. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ a b c 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. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3190.1.4.
- ^ Lygosoma veunsaiense at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 25 January 2015.
- ^ Phnom Penh Post: Unknown lizard unearthed
- ^ Conservation International: Iridescent Lizard Discovered in Northeastern Cambodia
- ^ a b c Ottawa Citizen: New rainbow lizard discovered in Cambodia
- ^ a b Fauna-Flora.org: Shiny new lizard discovered in northeast Cambodia
- ^ Global Post: Cambodia's newest species discovery: a stumpy-legged rainbow lizard
External links
edit
Data related to Lygosoma veunsaiense at Wikispecies