Lygosoma veunsaiense | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Scincidae |
Genus: | Lygosoma |
Species: | L. veunsaiense
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Binomial name | |
Lygosoma veunsaiense Geissler, Hartmann, and Neang, 2012[2]
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Lygosoma veunsaiense is a species of skink that is endemic to northeastern Cambodia.[2][3] Its description as a new species was published in 2012, receiving both local and international publicity.[4][5][6][7]
In 2010, at the remote rainforest area of Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia a Fauna and Flora International herpetologist, Thy Neang, first discovered Lygosoma veunsaiense.[6] Peter Geissler from Museum Koenig in Germany, was one of the authors who described the skink.[7]
This type of lizard has iridescent rainbow skin with a long tail and short legs.[6] The outer ear opening is absent; supranasals distinct and separated from each other by frontonasal; supranasals not fused with nasals; midbody scales in 22 rows; fontoparietals paired; five supralabial scales; a light stripe present on outer edge of the dorsum; and a dark dorsolateral stripe present, from behind the eye to the tail.[2]
Lygosoma veunsaiense spends most of its life underground in the rainforest.[8]