Keeled Indian mabuya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keeled Indian mabuya |
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| A Keeled Indian Mabuya in Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eutropis
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| Species: |
carinata
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| Synonyms | |
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Mabuya carinata (Schneider, 1801) |
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The Keeled Indian Mabuya (scientific name: Eutropis carinata) is a fascinating reptile. It's also known as the many-keeled grass skink. Sometimes, people even call it the "golden skink" because of its shiny scales! This amazing creature is a type of skink, which is a kind of lizard. You can find it living in different parts of South Asia.
Contents
About the Keeled Indian Mabuya
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The Keeled Indian Mabuya has a strong body and a rounded snout. Its lower eyelids have scales, and the scales on its back are smooth. The ear opening is round or somewhat triangular.
These skinks can be brown, olive, or bronze in color. They might have dark spots or stripes along the sides of their scales. Their sides are often dark brown or chestnut, sometimes with lighter spots. A light line usually runs from above their eye all the way to the base of their tail. The underside of their body is typically whitish or yellowish.
A full-grown Keeled Indian Mabuya can be up to 37 centimeters (about 14.5 inches) long. On average, they are about 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long. Their body length, from snout to tail vent, is usually around 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches).
The skink known as Eutropis lankae, found in Sri Lanka, is now considered its own separate species.
Where They Live
You can often find the Keeled Indian Mabuya in several countries in South Asia. These include Bangladesh, India (though not in the northwest part), the Maldives, Myanmar, and Nepal. It's also possible they live in Bhutan.
Life and Habits
Habitat and Daily Life
These skinks are active during the day, which means they are diurnal. They live on the ground, making them terrestrial. You'll often see them warming themselves in the sun or looking for food in open areas.
What They Eat
The Keeled Indian Mabuya is a carnivore, meaning it eats other animals. Their diet includes insects like crickets, caterpillars, and beetles. They also enjoy earthworms. Sometimes, they might even eat small vertebrates, which are animals with backbones.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Keeled Indian Mabuyas lay eggs, which means they are oviparous. A female skink can lay between 2 and 20 eggs at one time. They usually lay their eggs in a hole they dig themselves or under fallen logs. This happens between August and September.
The eggs are about 11 by 17 millimeters in size. The baby skinks, called hatchlings, emerge from the eggs between May and June. When they first hatch, they are very tiny, measuring about 12 to 12.5 millimeters long.
In southern India, male skinks are most active in reproduction during October and November. This time matches when the female skinks are ready to lay their eggs, usually during the dry season after the rains.
