Trachylepis brevicollis
Trachylepis brevicollis, the short-necked skink or Sudan mabuya, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is distributed across northeastern and eastern Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula.
Taxonomy and etymology
The species was originally described by Wiegmann in 1837 as Euprepes brevicollis.It was later placed in the genus Mabuya before being transferred to the genus Trachylepis following taxonomic revision of African mabuyine skinks.
The specific epithet brevicollis is derived from Latin, meaning “short-necked”, referring to the species’ relatively stout neck.
Description
Trachylepis brevicollis is a relatively large and robust skink, reaching a snout–vent length of approximately 140 mm.The body is cylindrical with well-developed limbs. Dorsal and lateral scales are strongly keeled, often with double keels, giving the skin a rough texture. The head is broad with five supralabial scales anterior to the eye, and the first supraocular scale contacts the frontal scale.
Coloration is variable. Juveniles typically exhibit bold dark and light patterning, while adults tend to be more uniformly brown or grey. In some populations, particularly in Arabia, adult males may show orange or reddish coloration along the flanks and sides of the body.
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.Trachylepis brevicollis inhabits open and semi-arid environments, including savanna, scrubland, rocky terrain, agricultural areas, and disturbed habitats. It is often found on the ground or among low vegetation and human-modified landscapes.