Tammanna Skink

The Tammanna skink is endemic to Sri Lanka and is a terrestrial skink of open grassland, coconut and cashew plantations, house gardens and farm fields, widespread below 200 m. The snout is short and the lower eyelid has no transparent disc. The back is medium brown, the lips bright orange in males and yellow in females, with the colour reaching the middle of the flanks. A black stripe with large creamy-yellow spots runs from below the eye beyond the base of the tail, paler in females, and the belly is yellowish cream (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is typically diurnal, found under piles of forest debris, leaves and logs, in shrubs, and near plantation and farm refuse such as coconut husk piles, generally at sea level and close to beaches. It eats invertebrates small enough to swallow. Larger animals may eat juveniles, and it may rarely take tiny frogs or newborn snakes. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).