Lampropholis isla


Lamphropholis isla, also known as the Scawfell Island sunskink, is a species of skink belonging to the subfamily Eugongylinae. It is endemic to the rainforest areas of Scawfell Island off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
It is a robust species with the head and body being continuous with almost narrowing of the neck. The snout is rounded and its nasals are widely separated. Their bodies are mostly a uniform light brown color with the occasional darker flecks. A pale faint and narrow strip can be seen starting from the ear and extending to the midbody. Males tend to have a copper color on the dorsal surface of their heads. They also have prominent lateral orange markings.

Discovery

This species was discovered by Professor Conrad Hoskin during a reptile survey of Scawfell Island that occurred from the 16–19 of November in 2021. In the year 1994, two specimens were collected and assigned to the species Lampropholis delicata.

Taxonomy

Lampropholis isla is possibly a sister species to Lampropholis couperi which together possibly form a group with Lampropholis adonis. However the genetic evidence to support this is weak.