Common sun skink (Eutropis multifasciata)

Kadal kebun or bengkarung or Mabuya multifasciata or common sun skink (Eutropis multifasciata) is a species of lizard in Scincidae, has a pattern of faint lines extending to the sides of the body, measuring 18 to 22 cm in length with a tail length of about 60% of the overall body and more many live on the ground.

E. multifasciata has a sharp head with a very short neck and a square cross section. The upper part is dark brown or shiny grayish brown with a golden body side especially near the neck. Sometimes also decorated with small pale spots on the back.

The lower neck is light brown and the abdomen to the anus is pale brown. The muzzle is reddish, the tail is the same color as the body, decorated with a faint dark line on the sides. The arms are also the same color as the upper body.

Common sun skinks usually live on the edge of forests, gardens, rice fields and human settlements. They spend most of their time on the ground, usually in crevices and rocky cliffs as a place to live and to find prey.

Kadal kebun prey on small insects, worms, spiders, larvae and sometimes other smaller reptiles. They are also often seen climbing trees in the morning to loot bird nests and eat eggs when left by their mothers. Also love chunks of vegetables and fruits.

E. multifasciata defends itself by deciding the tail that can move autotomically to distract the intruder, while they will run to save themselves.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Eutropis
Species: E. multifasciata

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