Otosaurus
| Otosaurus | |
|---|---|
| |
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Otosaurus Gray, 1845 |
| Species: | O. cumingii |
| Binomial name | |
| Otosaurus cumingii Gray, 1845 | |
| |
| Sphenomorphus cumingii distribution | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Otosaurus cumingii, commonly called Cuming's sphenomorphus or the Luzon giant forest skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Philippines.
Etymology
The specific name, cumingii, is in honor of English naturalist Hugh Cuming.[3]
Habitat
O. cumingii is found up to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level in the forests throughout most of the Philippines.[1]
Description
The Luzon giant forest skink reaches a total length (including tail) of 35 cm (14 inches).[4]
Behavior
O. cumingii tends to hide under leaves and logs.[1][4][5]
References
- ^ a b c Brown R, Rico E (2009). "Sphenomorphus cumingi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169822A6678580.en
- ^ Species Otosaurus cumingii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Sphenomorphus cumingi, p. 62).
- ^ a b Third Quarter Topical Issue – Philippine Endemic Lizards. phlpost.gov.ph (July 20, 2011)
- ^ Sphenomorphus cumingi Cuming's Sphenomorphus. Encyclopedia of Life
Further reading
- Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. ... Scincidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I-XL. (Lygosoma cumingii, p. 249 + Plate XVI, figure 2).
- Gray JE (1845). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxviii + 289 pp. (Otosaurus cumingii, new species, p. 93).
- Linkem CW, Diesmos AC, Brown RM (2011). "Molecular systematics of the Philippine forest skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Sphenomorphus): testing morphological hypotheses of interspecific relationships". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163: 1217–1243. (Otosaurus cumingii, new combination).