Cryptoblepharus keiensis ( Roux, 1910 )

Karin, Benjamin R., Stubbs, Alexander L., Arifin, Umilaela, Bloch, Luke M., Ramadhan, G., Iskandar, Djoko T., Arida, Evy, Reilly, Sean B., Kusnadi, Agus & Mcguire, Jimmy A., 2018, The herpetofauna of the Kei Islands (Maluku, Indonesia): Comprehensive report on new and historical collections, biogeographic patterns, conservation concerns, and an annotated checklist of species from Kei Kecil, Kei Besar, Tam, and Kur, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 66, pp. 704-738 : 722-723

Cryptoblepharus keiensis ( Roux, 1910)

(Fig. 20)

Type locality. Elat , Kei Besar, Kei Islands, Indonesia .

Distribution in the Kei Islands. The type locality at Elat, Kei Besar was sampled extensively by the AM and WAM expeditions. We collected additional material for Cryptoblepharus keiensis from Kei Kecil, Tam and Kur.

Fig. 19. Comparison of dorsal colour pattern of Carlia beccarii from the Kei Islands (left three; ALS 111, ALS 384, ALS 410) and from Tam (right three; BRK 180, BRK 182, BRK 184).

Fig. 20. Photo in life of Cryptoblepharus keiensis from Kei Kecil (ALS 520).

Natural history. This species was common in disturbed and secondary forest and found on the trunks of medium to large trees. We often found it active in the morning on Kei Kecil, slowly climbing coconut palms.

Field identification. A small arboreal skink with five tan to yellow longitudinal stripes separated by six black stripes running from the head to the base of the tail. On the tail, the stripe dissolves into a series of black spots. Some individuals have a nearly white head. Cryptoblepharus are known as “snake-eyed skinks” as they lack moveable eyelids. Mid-body scale rows 22–24 ( Roux, 1910). SVL to 43 mm.