Protoblepharus apatani

Protoblepharus apatani is a species of skink. It was discovered during a herpetological investigation of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and is endemic to the East Himalayan Mountains.

Etymology

The generic epithet Protoblepharus is a Latinized combination of the Greek words proto, meaning ‘primitive’ and blepharo meaning ‘eyelid’, which is a reference to ablepharine skinks. The epithet apatani is meant to honor the Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, who helped and assisted the fieldwork in Arunachal Pradesh.

Protoblepharus apatani has a small to medium sized body, up to 63mm. It’s body scales are glossy, smooth or striated. The holotype was golden brown with a with a broad dark stripe gradually diffusing with the background colour at the mid-body.