Corresponding author: Truong Quang Nguyen (
Academic editor: Katharina Wollenberg Valero
We report six new records of skinks from northwestern Vietnam:
In the recent checklist of the herpetofauna of Vietnam,
In Son La Province, previous studies documented a total of 11 species of
Field surveys in northwestern Vietnam were conducted by Anh Van Pham, Tan Van Nguyen, Ngoc Thi Bich Nguyen, Men Thi Nguyen, and Hoang Van Tu (hereafter AVP et al.) between June 2013 and May 2014 and by Truong Quang Nguyen, Anh Van Pham, Hai Ngoc Ngo, Tan Van Nguyen, and Hoang Van Tu (hereafter TQN et al.) in September 2014 in the Copia and Sop Cop nature reserves (Son La Province); by Dzung Le Trung, Bach Viet Nguyen, Ngat Thi Bui, Hoa Phuong Vu (hereafter DTL et al.) between May 2012 and August 2014 in Muong Nhe Nature Reserve (Fig.
Measurements were taken with a digital caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm. The following abbreviations are used: SVL: Snout-vent length, TaL: Tail length, AG: Axilla-groin distance (from posterior junction of forelimb and body wall to anterior junction of hind limb and body wall with the limbs held at right angles to the body), HL: Head length (from tip of snout to posterior margin of parietal), HW: Head width (at the widest point of temporal region), SL: Snout length (from anterior corner of eye to tip of snout), SFlL: Snout-forelimb length (from tip of snout to anterior junction of forelimb and body wall, with the limb held at right angles to the body), FlL: Forelimb length (from anterior junction of forelimb and body wall to the tip of fourth finger, with the limb held at right angles to the body), HlL: Hind limb length (anterior junction of hindlimb and body wall to the tip of fourth toe, with the limb held at right angles to the body). Scalation: Paravertebral scales (number of scales in a line from posterior edge of parietals to dorsal point opposite posterior margin of the medial precloacals); ventral scale rows (number of scales from first gular to anterior margin of precloacals).
Morphological characters (determination after
Head longer than wide; rostral wider than high; supranasals present, separated from each other; prefrontals separated by frontal; parietals separated by interparietal; enlarged nuchal scales in one pair; loreals 2; supraciliaries 5 or 6; supraoculars 4, followed by 2 postsupraoculars; primary temporals 3, secondary temporals 3, keeled; supralabials 7, the fifth below the eye; external ear openings with small projecting lobules anteriorly, tympanum deeply sunk; mental wider than long; infralabials 7; postmental undivided; midbody scales in 30 rows; dorsal scales with 5– 7 obtuse keels, slightly larger than lateral scales; paravertebral scales 36–39; ventrals in 43–47 transverse rows, smooth; precloacals 2, enlarged; medial subcaudals not widened; limbs strong, pentadactyl; fingers and toes meeting when adpressed; subdigital lamellae smooth, 10 or 11 under fourth finger and 13–16 under fourth toe.
Coloration in alcohol. Dorsal surface brown, with or without small black spots; white stripe present on upper lip, extending backwards to shoulder; a dorsolateral light line extending from eye to midway on body; flank dark brown from behind the eye to hind limb, with white spots; neck and throat reddish in males and cream in females; venter and underside of tail cream. For coloration in life see Fig.
In Vietnam, this is a widespread species, known from Lang Son Province in the North to Kien Giang Province in the South. Elsewhere,
Specimens of
Morphological characters (determination after
Head longer than wide; rostral wider than high; supranasals absent; prefrontals separated from each other by frontal; parietals in contact posteriorly; enlarged nuchal scales in 3 pairs; loreals 2; supraciliaries 7 or 8; supraoculars 4, followed by one small postsupraocular; primary temporal single; secondary temporals 2, upper very large and overlapped by lower one; lower eyelid with a large undivided opaque window, separated from supralabials by a row of small scales; supralabials 7, the fifth and sixth below the eye; ear opening without projecting lobules; tympanum deeply sunk; mental wider than long; infralabials 6; postmental undivided; midbody scales in 28 rows; two medial scale rows on the neck widened; dorsal scales between lateral stripes in ½ + 6 + ½ rows, smooth, larger than lateral scales; paravertebral scales 63–66; ventrals in 61–66 transverse rows, smooth; precloacals 2, enlarged; medial subcaudals widened; limbs short, pentadactyl; fingers and toes meeting when adpressed; subdigital lamellae smooth, 14 under fourth finger and 17–19 under fourth toe.
Coloration in alcohol. Dorsum bronze brown, with two silver gray clear bands extending from parietals to base of tail and a dark wide vertebral stripe; numerous blackish spots on the labials; upper lateral zone with a distinct dark stripe from behind the eye to hind limb, with light spots; the lower edge broken in numerous small black dots; venter and under surface of tail base cream. For coloration in life see Fig.
This species is currently known only from Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces in northeastern Vietnam (Nguyen et al., 2009). This is the first record of
The adult females were collected between 10:00 and 16:00 while crossing a forest path. The surrounding habitat was secondary forest of hardwood and shrub.
Morphological characters (determination after
Head longer than wide; rostral wider than high; supranasals absent; prefrontals separated from each other by frontal; parietals in contact posteriorly; enlarged nuchal scales in 3 pairs; loreals 2; supraciliaries 6; supraoculars 4, followed by a small postsupraocular; primary temporal single; secondary temporals 2, upper very large and overlapped by lower one; lower eyelid with a large undivided opaque window, separated from supralabials by a row of small scales; supralabials 7, the fifth below the eye; ear opening without projecting lobules; tympanum slightly sunk; mental wider than long; infralabials 6; postmental undivided; midbody scales in 24 rows; dorsal scales between lateral stripes in ½ + 4 + ½ rows, smooth, larger than lateral scales; paravertebral scales 58; ventrals in 56 transverse rows, smooth; precloacals 2, enlarged; medial subcaudals widened; limbs short, pentadactyl; fingers and toes widely separated when adpressed; subdigital lamellae smooth, 7 under fourth finger and 11 under fourth toe.
Coloration in alcohol. Dorsal surface bronze brown with some indistinct dark spots on body, dark brown laterally with a dark stripe from behind the eye to tail tip; ventral surface cream, underside of tail with some brown spots (see Fig.
This species was recently recorded in Vietnam from Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces. Elsewhere, this species is known from China (Nguyen et al. 2010 b, c). This is the first record for Dien Bien Province.
The specimen was collected at ca. 20:00 on the ground, near a stream. The surrounding habitat was evergreen forest of hardwood and shrub.
Morphological characters (determination after
Head longer than wide; rostral wider than high; supranasals absent; prefrontals in contact with each other; parietals in contact posteriorly; enlarged nuchal scales in 0–3 pairs; loreals 2; supraciliaries 7 or 8; supraoculars 4, followed by two small scales; primary temporals 2; secondary temporals 2, upper very large and overlapped by lower one; lower eyelid with a large undivided opaque window, separated from supralabials by 1–3 row of small scales; supralabials 7 (rarely 8), the fifth and sixth below the eye; ear opening with 3 or 4 projecting lobules; tympanum deeply sunk; mental wider than long; infralabials 6 (rarely 5); postmental undivided; midbody scales in 30 or 32 rows; dorsal scales between lateral stripes in ½ + 6 + ½ rows, smooth, as large as lateral scales; paravertebral scales 61–67; ventrals in 66–71 transverse rows, smooth; precloacals 2, enlarged; medial subcaudals slightly widened; limbs short, pentadactyl; fingers and toes widely separated when adpressed; subdigital lamellae smooth, 9–11 under fourth finger and 15–17 under fourth toe.
Coloration in alcohol. Dorsum silver gray, with a dark vertebral stripe; upper lateral zone with a distinct reddish band from behind the eye to hind limb, with some light spots; the lower edge broken in somes small black dots; venter and underside of tail base cream or whitish. For coloration in life see Fig.
In Vietnam, this species has been recorded from Lai Chau Province (Eremchenko, 2003). Elsewhere, this species is known from Laos (Bourret, 1937). This is the first record of the species from Son La and Dien Bien provinces.
Specimens were collected between 10:00 and 16:30 on the ground. The surrounding habitat was grass and shrub near a forest path.
Morphological characters (determination after
Head longer than wide; rostral wider than high; supranasals absent; prefrontals in contact with each other; parietals in contact posteriorly; loreals 2; supraoculars 4, followed by 2 postsupraoculars, anterior one divided; primary temporal single; secondary temporals 2, upper very large and overlapped by lower one; lower eyelid scaly; supralabials 7, the fifth and sixth below the eye, separated from the eye by one row of small scales; external ear openings superficial, without lobules; mental wider than long; infralabials 6; postmental undivided; midbody scales in 34 rows; dorsal scales between lateral stripes in ½ + 6 + ½ rows, smooth; paravertebral scales 71; ventrals in 75 transverse rows, smooth; precloacals 2, enlarged; medial subcaudals widened; limbs short, pentadactyl; fingers and toes meeting when adpressed; subdigital lamellae smooth, numbering 13 under fourth finger and 20 under fourth toe.
Coloration in alcohol. Dorsum and tail base yellowish brown with a vertebral row of large black spots; numerous indistinct white spots on the labials; lateral zone with a distinct dark stripe from behind the eye to tail base, with white spots; neck and throat white, with black dots; venter and underside anterior part of tail white, posterior part of tail yellowish brown (see Fig.
This species is currently known only from northern Vietnam: Lao Cai, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, and Nghe An provinces (Nguyen et al., 2009). This is the first record of the species from Dien Bien Province.
The adult female was collected at ca. 9:00 on a tree branch, ca. 1.2 m above the water in a rocky stream. The surrounding habitat was evergreen secondary forest of hardwood and shrub.
Morphological characters (determination after
Head longer than wide; rostral wider than high; supranasals absent; prefrontals separated from each other by frontal; parietals in contact posteriorly; one pair of enlarged nuchal scales; loreals 2; supraoculars 4, followed by two small postsupraoculars; primary temporals 2; secondary temporals 2; lower eyelid scaly; supralabials 7, the fifth and sixth below the eye, separated from it by a row of small scales; external ear present, with three very small lobules, tympanum deeply sunk; mental wider than long; infralabials 7; postmental undivided; midbody scales in 34–36 rows; dorsal scales between lateral stripes in ½ + 8 + ½ rows, smooth, as large as the lateral scales; paravertebral scales 68–74; ventrals in 65–69 transverse rows, smooth; precloacals 2, enlarged; medial subcaudals not widened; limbs short, pentadactyl; fingers and toes meeting when adpressed; subdigital lamellae smooth, 11 under fourth finger and 15–18 under fourth toe.
Coloration in alcohol. Dorsum and tail base bronze brown; upper lateral zone with a dark gray stripe, in width of 3 or 4 scales, from behind eye to tail base; light dorsolateral stripe present on neck and shoulder, the lower margin of dark stripe with some broken light spots; lower lateral zone light gray; ventral white. For coloration in life see Fig.
In Vietnam, this species is a common species known from Lao Cai and Lang Son provinces in the North southwards to Dong Nai Province. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded from India, Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Nguyen et al., 2009). This is the first record of the species in Dien Bien Province.
The specimens were collected between 9:00 and 12:00 on the ground. The surrounding habitat was secondary forest of small hardwood, bamboo and shrub.
Except for
We are grateful to the directorates of Copia, Sop Cop and Muong Nhe nature reserves for support of our field work. We thank T. V. Nguyen, N. B. T. Nguyen, M. T. Nguyen, H. V. Tu, M. A. Lau, T. A. Sung (Son La), B. V. Nguyen, H. P. Vu, N. T. Bui (Hanoi), K. L. Toan, L. A. Sung (Dien Bien), and H. N. Ngo (Hanoi) for their assistance in the field. We thank two reviewers for their helpful comments. Field equipment was provided by the Ideal Wild to A. V. Pham and D. T. Le. Field work in northwestern Vietnam was funded by the National Geographic Society (Grant No. 9492–14). Research of T. Q. Nguyen was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (VIE 114344).
Map showing the survey sites: 1) Muong Nhe Nature Reserve in Dien Bien Province, 2) Copia Nature Reserve in Son La Province 3) Sop Cop Nature Reserve in Son La Provice, nothwestern Vietnam
Measurements (in mm) and proportions of skink specimens from northwestern Vietnam.
Cha-racter |
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Min– |
Mean± |
Min–Max |
Mean± |
Min– |
(n=1 ♀) | Min– |
Mean± |
Min– |
Mean± |
(n=1 ♀) | Min–Max (n=2 ♂) | Min–Max (n=2 ♀) | |
SVL | 55.6–61.7 | 58.3± |
55.4–59.6 | 57.5± |
52.1–53.9 | 27.0 | 34.2–45.4 | 42.0± |
43.2–50.0 | 46.5± |
68.2 | 63.4–69.6 | 78.8–82.6 |
TaL | 95.4 | 95.4 | 80.5–85.7 | 83.6± |
– | 37.6 | 62.3–75.0 | 68.82± |
63.9 | – | 116.8 | 112.2 | 141.3–151.0 |
AG | 24.1–30.4 | 27.2± |
26.7–29.0 | 27.5± |
27.3– |
13.8 | 17.9–24.4 | 21.5± |
26.1–30.0 | 27.4± |
32.8 | 32.7–30.1 | 40.6–41.0 |
SL | 4.8–5.6 | 5.2± |
5.0– |
5.0± |
4.3– |
2.4 | 3.0–3.4 | 3.2± |
2.4–3.0 | 2.8± |
6.4 | 5.5–5.3 | 6.9 |
STL | 11.6–13.0 | 12.4± |
11.2–12.0 | 11.6± |
9.9– |
5.5 | 6.8–8.7 | 8.0± |
7.0–7.9 | 7.6± |
14.6 | 12.6–12.8 | 16.5–16.6 |
SFlL | 21.1–24.0 | 22.1± |
19.5–22.2 | 20.6± |
18.0–18.8 | 10.4 | 12.9–16.2 | 15.3± |
12.4–15.9 | 14.5± |
27.3 | 21.9 | 29.8–30.7 |
END | 3.2–3.5 | 3.3± |
3.0– |
3.5± |
2.9 | 1.1 | 1.8–2.1 | 1.9± |
1.8–2.2 | 2.0± |
4.1 | 3.5–3.7 | 4.3– |
EL | 3.4–4.0 | 3.7± |
3.0– |
3.4± |
1.1– |
1.6 | 1.8–2.9 | 2.3± |
1.7–2.7 | 2.1± |
4.6 | 3.9 | 4.1– |
HL | 10.6–11.1 | 10.9± |
9.3– |
9.6± |
9.4– |
5.6 | 6.4–8.2 | 7.9± |
6.9–8.0 | 7.5± |
14.3 | 11.6–11.9 | 14.3–14.6 |
HW | 7.6–9.3 | 8.7± |
8.1– |
8.6± |
7.2– |
4.0 | 4.5–5.8 | 5.3± |
4.8–10.4 | 6.1± |
9.9 | 9.0–9.9 | 11.9–12.2 |
HH | 6.4–7.5 | 7.0± |
6.7– |
7.0± |
5.4– |
2.8 | 3.4–4.4 | 4.10± |
3.6–4.3 | 3.9± |
7.8 | 6.7–7.0 | 9.7– |
TYD | 1.3–1.4 | 1.3± |
1.1– |
1.3± |
1.0– |
1.0 | 1.2–1.5 | 1.4± |
1.3–1.8 | 1.4± |
1.5 | 2.1–2.2 | 2.4– |
FlL | 17.2–20.2 | 18.3± |
16.8–17.8 | 17.4± |
17.0–17.2 | 5.8 | 9.2–10.4 | 9.8± |
7.6–9.7 | 8.9± |
19.3 | 17.5–18.6 | 20.0–20.6 |
HlL | 25.9–27.9 | 26.4± |
24.7–25.0 | 24.8± |
21.6–22.1 | 7.8 | 12.7–16.6 | 15.0± |
13.9–15.2 | 14.6± |
28.2 | 26.6–27.6 | 30.7–34.9 |
SVL/ |
0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65–0.74 | 0.69± |
– | 0.72 | 0.58–0.72 | 0.65± |
0.72 | – | 0.6 | 0.62 | 0.52–0.58 |
FIL/ |
0.31–0.33 | 0.32± |
0.29–0.31 | 0.3± |
0.32–0.33 | 0.21 | 0.22–0.27 | 0.24± |
0.17–0.21 | 0.2± |
0.28 | 0.25–0.29 | 0.25 |
HIL/ |
0.45–0.47 | 0.46± |
0.41–0.45 | 0.43± |
0.4– |
0.29 | 0.34–0.38 | 0.36± |
0.3–0.32 | 0.3± |
0.41 | 0.38–0.44 | 0.39–0.42 |
Checklist of skinks (
Name | Dien Bien | Son La |
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Appendix 1. Morphological characters of skink specimens from Vietnam (for abbreviations see Material and Methods; * regenerated tail or tai tip lost; – data unobtainable; bilateral scale counts are given as left/right)
Data type: Morphological characters
File: oo_37666.xlsx