This is very common in my garden. It is a shy little creature. On spotting me or anybody it silently moves and hides underneath any object in close range. I was able to shoot with a zoom which was eluding me for a macro shot with my earlier camera - which is impossible - it just runs away. Which is this creature? This is not a bug or an insect to suit the title of this forum, but I thought it would ba apt.
That looks like a skink to me. I have only seen them in pet stores around here.
It might be the Speckled Forest Skink (Mabuya macularia): http://ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/speckled_forest_skink.htm
or another member of the genus Mabuya, such as the Common Skink (Mabuya carinata): http://www.pdn.ac.lk/socs/zaup/reptiles/scincidae.html
http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Mabuya_carinata.jpg
http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Mabuya_carinata1.jpg
Ken
Ken,
The tail of our 'resident' is thinner than the ones in the links.
It is not much thinner than this one, which also has the orange tip to the nose: http://www.pdn.ac.lk/socs/zaup/reptiles/images/scincidae/mabuya_carinata_b.jpg
Ken
Ah, this is closer, though the exact colours do not match.
It is a common skink. An exact color match is hard to find, mainly because colors change slightly according to season, breeding periods, and encounters with predators, prey ,and other skinks. Can't go by tails, either, because they can release their tails when necessary and a new one grows in its place, which makes their tails short and stubby at times.
Thanks for the info broncbuster.
Another closer picture I took yesterday. It allowed me to be 'macro'-ed!
Comparing the different links' pictures, mine is closer and should be Mabuya macularia. Those white bands, slimness and other descriptions match that of M.m.
Whatever he is he's absolutely wonderful! That last shot is stunning Dinu!
Another shot with its full view in a nice curl. Notice the orange belly.
