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Mangrove Skink
Emoia atrocostata
 Tide Pool Skink

These handsome shiny bronzey lizards are active during the day and can often be spotted sunning themselves on a hot day on branches or mud lobster mounds. When alarmed, they quickly slip away.

Skinks belong to the lizard family but unlike lizards, are covered with smooth, overlapping scales, and don't have obvious necks.

However, like some other lizards, skinks drop their tails to distract predators (autotomy), and can regrow them. The new tail, however, is not as nice and is supported by cartilage instead of bone.
Mangrove and wetland wildlife at
Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Main features: Relatively slender, small (26cm), large scales, long limbs. Emoia skinks have a moveable lower eyelid which is clear.

Status in Singapore: Native to Singapore, uncommon.

World distribution: From Japan, Taiwan down the Malayan peninsula to Australia and the Pacific islands.		 mangrove skink on a lobster mound
Similar skinks: Common Sun Skink (Mabuya mutlifasciata) has rough, strongly keeled back scales, while the Mangrove Skink's are smooth. The Common Sun Skink is larger (35cm).

Classification: Family Scincidae, subfamily Lygosomines.

mangrove skink about to eat a crab The Mangrove Skink feeds mainly on insects such
as mangrove crickets and small crabs, hunting for them on the mudflats at low tide. Although Mangrove Skinks can swim well, they prefer to retreat to higher ground at high tide.

Emoia skinks are among the few lizards besides geckos to colonise the Pacific islands. Perhaps it is because they can tolerate saline conditions? Mangrove Skinks are found in mangroves and among the vegetation along the coasts. In the Mariana Islands, they are called Tide Pool Skinks.

Breeding: Mangrove skinks lay eggs, usually only 2.

Status and threats: The Mangrove Skink is considered uncommon in Singapore.

LINKS

REFERENCES
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  • Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi, "A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore II: Animal Diversity", Singapore Science Centre, 1999 (p: 146: description, habit, photo).
  • Frances L K Lim, "A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore", Singapore Science Centre, 1992 (p: 102: description, habit, photo).
  • Merel J. Cox, Peter Paul van Dijk, Jarujin Nabhitabhata and Kumthorn Thirakhupt, "A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand", New Holland, 1998 (p. 113: habits, habitat, photo).
  • Peter Widman (ed.), "A Guide to the Ecosystem of Palawan, Philippines", Times Edition, 1998 (p. 46: snippet on habit, photo).
  • Dr. Harold G Cogger (et. al), "Encyclopedia of Animals"; Lizards by Aaron M. Bauer, 1993 (p. 603-606: features of skinks in general).
 
By Ria Tan, 2001