SEAVR 2020: 027‐028
ISSN: 2424‐8525
Date of publication: 08 September 2020
Hosted online by ecologyasia.com

Predation of Many‐lined Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata) on ajuvenile sun skink (Eutropis sp.)
Jake Wilson B. BINADAY and Marvin Jay R. SARMIENTO
jwbinaday@gmail.com, sarmientomarvinjay@yahoo.com

Observers: Jake Wilson B. Binaday, Marvin Jay R. Sarmiento.
Photographs by: Jake Wilson B. Binaday.
Subjects identified by: Jake Wilson B. Binaday.
Location: Municipality of Coron, Palawan Province, Philippines.
Elevation: 120 metres ASL.
Habitat: Rocky, shallow stream.
Date and time: 28 April 2020, 13:31 hrs.
Identity of subjects:(i) Many‐lined Sun Skink, Eutropis multifasciata (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae)(ii) Sun skink, Eutropis sp. (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae)
Description of record: An adult Many‐lined Sun Skink was observed approaching a juvenile sun skink (Eutropis sp.)and nabbed it by its body. The juvenile sun skink wriggled in an attempt to escape, while the Many‐lined Sun Skink
repeatedly bit its prey (Figures 1 and 2). As the observers attempt to capture the Many‐lined Sun Skink to identify
the prey, it dashed under a large boulder preventing its capture.

© Jake Wilson B. Binaday

Fig. 1.

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Fig. 2.

© Jake Wilson B. Binaday

Remarks: The adult predator sun skink was identified as Eutropis multifasciata based on (i) an estimated SVL of
10 cm, (ii) 3 keels on dorsal scales, (iii) uniform brown color, (iv) and its geographic location with only two known
species of Eutropis in Palawan province, the other species being Eutropis sahulinghangganan (Brown & Alcala1980; Barley et al. 2020). The juvenile prey sun skink was identified as belonging to the genus Eutropis based onits (i) cylindrical body shape, (ii) well‐developed limbs with 5 digits, and (iii) medium‐sized tail (Mausfeld et al.
2002).
The Many‐lined Sun Skink occurs in several countries in South and Southeast Asia. It is widely distributed in thePhilippines, and is observed in both pristine and disturbed habitats. The species has been known to feed on
insects and freshwater crabs (Sy 2018). To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of the Many‐lined Sun
Skink predating on another sun skink species.
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Calamianes Resilience Network, Cordaid, and Forest Foundation
Philippines for the financial and logistical support for the fieldwork.
References:
Barley, A.J., A.C. Diesmos, C.D. Siler, C.M. Martinez & R.M. Brown. (2020). Taxonomic Revision of Philippine Sun
Skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: Eutropis), and Descriptions of Eight New Species. Herpetol. Monogr. 34: 39–70
Brown, W.C. & A.C. Alcala. (1980). Philippine lizards of the family Scincidae. Silliman University Press, Dumaguete
City, Philippines. xi + 264 pp.
Mausfeld, P., A. Schmitz, W. Böhme, B. Misof, D. Vrcibradic, C. Frederico & D. Rocha (2002). Phylogenetic Affinities
of Mabuya atlantica Schmidt, 1945, Endemic to the Atlantic Ocean Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (Brazil):
Necessity of Partitioning the Genus Mabuya Fitzinger, 1826 (Scincidae: Lygosominae). Zool. Anz. 241: 281–293.
Sy, E. (2018). Many‐lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata predation on freshwater crab Geosesarma sp. onBusuanga Island, Philippines. Southeast Asia Vertebrate Records 2018: 18‐19.

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