604–610, 2007
Copyright 2007 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
ABSTRACT.—A new species of Eutropis (Sauria: Scincidae) is described from the island of Sulawesi,
Indonesia, distinguished from all congeneric species, with the exception of Eutropis longicaudis, by its large
size and low number of midbody scale rows. It has two primary temporal scales, whereas E. longicaudis from
Borneo has only one. This new species is diurnal, partially arboreal, and inhabits rain forest from below
100 m to at least 600 m elevation.
The genus Mabuya consists of at least 100 Recent studies of the herpetofauna of Sula-
species (Greer and Broadley, 2000) and is widely wesi, Indonesia, have revealed several unde-
distributed from Southeast Asia, through south- scribed reptile taxa in the region (Gillespie et al.,
ern Asia, the Seychelles, Africa and into South 2005; Howard and Gillespie 2007). In this paper,
and Central America. A recent systematic re- we describe one of these; a new distinctive
vision based upon molecular analysis (Mausfeld species of Eutropis. In addition, we present
et al., 2002) has split Mabuya to reflect evolu- further morphological data previously not avail-
tionary lineages: Mabuya is reserved for species able on other species of Eutropis from Sulawesi.
from South America; Euprepis is proposed for
Afro-Malagasy and Middle East taxa; Eutropis
(revalidated from Fitzinger, 1843) for the Asian MATERIALS AND METHODS
taxa; and Chioninia for the Cape Verde islands Specimens were collected during general
taxa. Nomenclature used here follows Mausfeld herpetofaunal surveys and inventories across
et al. (2002). Sulawesi and associated offshore islands be-
There are presently 31 species of Eutropis tween 1998 and 2004. Latitudes and longitudes
(Mausfeld and Böhme, 2002), ranging from were recorded to the nearest 10 when determined
India (including many smaller Indian ocean by GPS and to the nearest 19 when estimated
islands), east across continental Asia, and from maps. Specimens were euthanized by
southeast through Indonesia and the Philip- injection of chlorobutanol, preserved in 10%
pines, as far as Papua New Guinea. The formalin, then stored in 75% ethanol, and lodged
relationships within the genus Eutropis are at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Juanda
poorly resolved and, until recently, have re- 3, Kebun Raya, Bogor, Java, Indonesia (MZB).
ceived little attention. Molecular studies (Honda The ultimate destinations of six specimens
et al., 1999, 2000; Mausfeld et al., 2000) have collected are yet to be determined but will be
begun to elucidate some of the relationships, housed at either Museum Zoologicum Bogor-
but relatively poor sampling across the Asian iense, Indonesia, or the Museum of Vertebrate
region means there are likely to be more species Zoology (MVZ), University of California, Berke-
identified. ley. These specimens are referred to by their field
Previously 12 Eutropis were recognized in the numbers. Institutional abbreviations follow Le-
Southeast Asian archipelago (Indonesia, Philip- viton et al. (1985). All linear measurements were
pines, Thailand, and Malaysia), two of which recorded on preserved specimens by GG and AR
(Eutropis multifasciatus and Eutropis rudis) have using dial callipers to the nearest 0.1 mm.
been recorded from Sulawesi. Iskandar and Illustrations of the holotype were prepared by
Tjan (1996) also list E. multicarinatus from SH using a camera lucida.
Sulawesi; however, no confirmed specimens
exist, and this species may be restricted to the Eutropis grandis sp. nov.
Philippines. Figures 1–2
Holotype.—MZB 4862, mature male collected
3
Corresponding Author. on 25 June 2002, Lambusango Reserve, Buton
NEW EUTROPIS FROM SULAWESI 605
Description of holotype.—Male with complete apical pits; midbody scales 26; paravertebral
tail; SVL 136.13 mm; tail length 218.91 mm; scales 36.
frontonasal contacts rostral; supranasals sepa- Coloration of holotype.—Dorsal: head copper
rated by frontonasal; postnasal 1; loreals 2; brown, rufus/olive brown over shoulders and
preoculars 2; presubocular 1; supralabials 8, rest of dorsum. Three black mid-dorsal stripes
sixth largest (subocular); infralabials 8; prefron- approximately two-thirds of scale width, com-
tals in narrow contact, separating frontal and mencing at shoulder, extending to pelvis.
frontonasal; frontoparietals 2; parietals large Midstripe down middorsal line covering one-
and entire, separated by interparietal; nuchals third of each paravertebral scale, lateral dorsal
1 pair, overlapping middorsally behind inter- stripes covering outer one-third of paraverteb-
parietal; interparietal without parietal eye evi- rals and one-third of adjacent scale, continuing
dent; supraoculars 4, second largest, second as broken line onto base of skull and base of tail.
only and fully contacts the frontal; second Black corners on other dorsal scales form two
supraocular in contact with prefrontal; supra- additional flanking faint dorsal lines.
cillaries 5; eyelid moveable, scaly and lacking Lateral flanks pale olive-brown with black
transparent window. Primary temporal scales 2 flecking. Black bar 3/2-scale width runs dorso-
with 2 secondary temporals, widely separated laterally between limbs. Limbs pale olive-brown
by a tertiary temporal scale (2 + 2 separated; with black-tipped scale edges forming dark
see Greer and Broadley, 2000); upper secondary longitudinal lines. Head uniform brown, labial
temporal overlaps parietal; pretemporal scales scales faint orange-cream. Ventral; cream, be-
2; ear opening small, near spherical and coming pale blue on throat, chin predominantly
approximately one quarter of eye diameter; pale blue; soles of feet cream.
rostral and mental scale of comparable width; Neonates with distinctively metallic-brass
a single large postmental followed by two head coloration, merges into dark brown dor-
large chin shields in contact, followed by several sally and laterally; metallic olive-green scales
large separated scales which grade into ven- along top and side of the neck. Longitudinal
trals; preanal scales 8; with the exception of stripes absent. Every second scale along body
head shields, all scales are carinate with 3 rows with black posterior edge forming re-
prominent and 2 secondary keels per scale; ticulated transverse broken bars from neck
with the exception of the head shields and region down tail. Limbs black dorsally, dark
base of feet, all scales imbricate and lack grey ventrally. Chin white, becoming pale
NEW EUTROPIS FROM SULAWESI 607
TABLE 1. Diagnostic characteristics of Eutropis spp. from Sulawesi. Min-max (mean). Tail lengths only
presented for specimens with complete tails.
coinciding with the end of the wet season in that rows and a maximum SVL of 80 mm (Brown
region. and Alcala, 1980), whereas E. grandis possesses
Comparison.—Eutropis grandis is readily dis- typically 25–26 midbody scale rows (maximum
tinguished from the other Eutropis species 27) and a maximum SVL of 143 mm.
currently known from Sulawesi by the posses- The low number of midbody scale rows on E.
sion of only 25–27 midbody scale rows, whereas grandis distinguishes it from most other Eutropis
E. rudis possesses 28–32 and E. multifasciatus currently described. It can be distinguished
possesses 30–34 (Brown and Alcala, 1980:table from all Philippines species, which have up-
1). Eutropis multifasciatus can be further distin- ward of 28 midbody scale rows (Brown and
guished by its higher paravertebral scale count Alcala, 1980). Three Sunda Shelf species have
(43–45) when compared to E. grandis (33–40). midbody scale row ranges that overlap with
Five juveniles of E. grandis were recorded, these that of E. grandis: Eutropis longicaudatus (26–30),
can be confidently ascribed to this species Eutropis macularia (26–30), and Eutropis rugiferus
because they match the scale counts of the (24–28). Eutropis macularia and E. rugiferus are
adults and are sufficiently distinct in coloration small species, with maximum SVLs of only
(see above) from other Eutropis in the area. 65 mm (Boulenger, 1887). Eutropis macularia
Eutropis multicarinatus occurs in the Philip- only has 12–17 subdigital lamellae on the fourth
pines (Brown and Alcala, 1980) and has been toe (Boulenger, 1887), whereas E. grandis has 20–
reported as occurring in Sulawesi (Iskander and 24. Boulenger (1887) recorded E. rugiferus as
Tjan, 1996). This species is morphologically having broad contact between the frontonasal
most similar to E. rudis and can be distinguished and frontal, whereas E. grandis has, at most
from E. grandis by having 28–32 midbody scale narrow, often no contact between frontonasal
NEW EUTROPIS FROM SULAWESI 609
and frontal. Eutropis longicaudatus and E. rugi- LIPI (Museum). We thank R. Brown and J.
ferus possess only one primary temporal scale McGuire for discussions on the herpetofauna of
(Greer and Broadley, 2000), whereas E. grandis Sulawesi and access to specimens collected by
has two primary temporal scales. them. We also thank T. Coles, S. Olliver, Mr.
Ben, Bonny, and Dedy for logistical support,
and the community of Labundobundo for their
DISCUSSION field assistance. We thank Boeadi, Ibu Umpuni,
Several characters of taxonomic importance and the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense for
have been identified for the genus Eutropis access to specimens; D. Bray; Melbourne Muse-
(Greer and Broadley, 2000; Greer and Nuss- um, for use of their camera lucida; and M.
baum, 2000) and these characters, where appro- Scroggie for Figure 3. We thank A. Greer for
priate, have been recorded in the description of invaluable advice and comments on early drafts
the holotype specimen. The reduced size of the of this manuscript, along with two anonymous
first supraocular, not in contact with the frontal, reviewers.
is seen in all Eutropis species currently described
and is considered partially diagnostic of the
genus. The arrangement of the upper secondary LITERATURE CITED
temporal scale in relation to the parietal has BOULENGER, G. A. 1887. Catalogue of the lizards In the
been identified as a character of systematic and British Museum (Natural History). 2nd ed. Vol. III.
taxonomic importance. The parietal overlaps Lacertidae, Gerrhosauridae, Scincidae, Anelytropi-
the upper secondary temporal in the Mabuya, dae, Dibamidae, Chamaeleontidae. British Muse-
Euprepis, and Chioninia genera, whereas the um (Natural History), London.
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upper secondary temporal overlaps the parietal
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the temporals is also shown to be partially guete City, The Philippines.
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(Mausfeld et al., 2002). Further characters of GREER, A. E., AND R. A. NUSSBAUM. 2000. A new
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Acknowledgments.—Funding and support for and African Lygosomine Skinks of the Mabuya
this work was provided by Operation Wallacea, group (Reptilia: Scincidae): a molecular perspec-
Lincolnshire, U.K., and the Arthur Rylah In- tive. Zoological Science 16:979–984.
stitute for Environmental Research, Victoria, ———. 2000. Phylogenetic relationships, character
evolution and biogeography of the subfamily
Australia. Permission for this study was pro-
Lygosominae (Reptilia: Scincidae) inferred from
vided by Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylo-
(Indonesian Institute of Sciences) under permit genetics and Evolution 15:452–461.
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ment of Forestry Directorate General of the ISKANDER, D. T., AND K. N. TJAN. 1996. The amphibians
Natural Protection and Conservation), and the and reptiles of Sulawesi, with notes on the
Wallacea Development Institute, Jakarta. Addi- distribution and chromosomal number of frogs.
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Eastern Indonesian-Australian Vertebrate Fauna,
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Forestry Department Southeast Sulawesi, Natu- baga Ilmu Penetahuan Indonesia, Perth, Western
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