Saproscincus mustelinus

Saproscincus mustelinus

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia (paraphyletic)
Subclass:	Diapsida
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Scincidae
Subfamily:	Eugongylinae
Genus:	Saproscincus
Species:	S. mustelinus
Binomial name
*Saproscincus mustelinus* (O'Shaghnessy, 1874)
Synonyms
Mocoa mustelina O'Shaughnessy, 1874 Lygosoma mustelinum — M.A. Smith, 1937 Lamropholis mustelina — Greer, 1974 Saproscincus mustelinus — Wells & Wellington, 1983^[1]

Saproscincus mustelinus,^[2] commonly known as the southern weasel skink, is a small species of skink which is endemic to Australia.

Behavior

S. mustelinus is usually nocturnal, but is most active in the evening and warm mornings.

Diet

S. mustelinus hunts and feeds on small insects and other small invertebrates.

Description

The southern weasel skink is around 45 mm (1.8 in) from snout to vent, is covered in iridescent reddish brown (fine) scales, and has several distinctive white marks behind and below the eye.^[3]

Defensive behavior

If frightened this skink has the ability to lose its tail as a defence mechanism; the tail lies on the ground twitching, distracting the predator so the skink can escape.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Habitat

^[7] The southern weasel skink tends to utilize existing vegetation and fallen timber for shelter.

Geographic range

The southern weasel skink's distribution forms a coastal strip from south Victoria to southern Queensland.^[8] ^[9]

Reproduction

Females lay up to four eggs per clutch in a communal nest. The nests are normally a dugout, an underground burrow, which contain the eggs of numerous females.^[10] Laying normally occurs between spring and late summer.