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Shadeskinks
Saproscincus - Wells and Wellington, 1984

Pronunciation: SAP-roh-SKINK-uss
 Etymology: 'rotten skink'1, in reference to their use of decaying leaf-litter as a microhabitat.

Taxonomic notes:

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 12 out of 12 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: four-fingered shadeskink (Saproscincus tetradactylus) at 3.3 cm
 Longest Australian species: Eungella shadeskink (Saproscincus eungellensis) at 6.7 cm
Number of Australian species: 12
 

pale-lipped shadeskink (Saproscincus basiliscus)
Mission Beach, Queensland
Photo © David Fischer
pale-lipped shadeskink (Saproscincus basiliscus) distribution range map Saproscincus basiliscus
Pale-lipped shadeskink
Year described
(Ingram & Rawlinson 1981)
Description

orange-tailed shadeskink (Saproscincus challengeri)
Lamington Plateau, Queensland
Photo © Lee Borsboom
orange-tailed shadeskink (Saproscincus challengeri) distribution range map Saproscincus challengeri
Orange-tailed shadeskink
Year described
(Boulenger 1887)
Description
6 supraciliary scales; pale blotches on upper surface of tail.

wedge-snouted shadeskink (Saproscincus czechurai)
Mount Hypipamee, Queensland
Photo © David Fischer
wedge-snouted shadeskink (Saproscincus czechurai) distribution range map Saproscincus czechurai
Wedge-snouted shadeskink
Year described
(Ingram & Rawlinson 1981)
Description

Eungella shadeskink (Saproscincus eungellensis)
Eungella, Queensland
Photo © Brendan Schembri
Eungella shadeskink (Saproscincus eungellensis) distribution range map Saproscincus eungellensis
Eungella shadeskink
Year described
Sadlier, Couper, Colgan, Vanderduys & Rickard 2005
Description

Hannah's shadeskink (Saproscincus hannahae)
Conway National Park, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
Hannah's shadeskink (Saproscincus hannahae) distribution range map Saproscincus hannahae
Hannah's shadeskink
Year described
Couper & Keim 1998
Description

Lewis' shadeskink (Saproscincus lewisi)
Cape Tribulation, Queensland
Photo © David Fischer
Lewis' shadeskink (Saproscincus lewisi) distribution range map Saproscincus lewisi
Lewis' shadeskink
Year described
Couper & Keim 1998
Description

weasel skink (Saproscincus mustelinus)
Wollongong, New South Wales
Photo © David Fischer
weasel skink (Saproscincus mustelinus) distribution range map Saproscincus mustelinus
Weasel skink
Year described
(O'Shaughnessy 1874)
Description

heath shadeskink (Saproscincus oriarus)
Wooli, New South Wales
Photo © Kat Lowe
heath shadeskink (Saproscincus oriarus) distribution range map Saproscincus oriarus
Heath shadeskink
Year described
Sadlier 1998
Description

Rose's shadeskink (Saproscincus rosei)
Lamington Plateau, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
Rose's shadeskink (Saproscincus rosei) distribution range map Saproscincus rosei
Rose's shadeskink
Year described
Wells & Wellington 1985
Description
7 supraciliary scales; 17-24 subdigital lamellae; narrow dark ventrolateral line along tail; females have reddish dorsolateral stripe on tail, at least anteriorly; females have pale belly; mature males have pale yellow belly.

Cape Melville shadeskink (Saproscincus saltus)
Cape Melville, Queensland
Photo © Conrad Hoskin
Cape Melville shadeskink (Saproscincus saltus) distribution range map Saproscincus saltus
Cape Melville shadeskink
Year described
Hoskin 2013
Description
"Dorsal colour gold, with scattered black flecks; top of head golden brown with black flecks and mottling. Flanks brown to dark brown (typically darker on upper flank) with regular golden, yellowish or pale spots. Prominent yellow spot on posterior base of hindlimb, and smaller, less prominent yellow dot on upper base of forelimb."2

pale-lipped shadeskink (Saproscincus spectabilis)
Neutral Bay, New South Wales
Photo © Scott Eipper
pale-lipped shadeskink (Saproscincus spectabilis) distribution range map Saproscincus spectabilis
Pale-lipped shadeskink
Year described
(De Vis 1888)
Description
6 supraciliary scales; 22-28 subdigital lamellae; males have bright yellow belly; colour of top of tail merges gently with side of tail (i.e., no sharp colour change).

four-fingered shadeskink (Saproscincus tetradactylus)
Mission Beach, Queensland
Photo © David Fischer
four-fingered shadeskink (Saproscincus tetradactylus) distribution range map Saproscincus tetradactylus
Four-fingered shadeskink
Year described
(Greer & Kluge 1980)
Description

References
  1. Wells, Richard W. & Wellington, C. Ross (1984). A synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, 1(3-4):73-129. - search web for this article
  2. Hoskin, Conrad J. (2013). A new skink (Scincidae: Saproscincus) from rocky rainforest habitat on Cape Melville, north-east Australia. Zootaxa, 3722(3):385-395.
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