Dasia griffini, commonly known as Griffin's keel-scaled tree skink or Griffin's dasia, is a species of tree skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to central and northern Palawan and southern Mindoro in the Philippines.[1][2][3]

Dasia griffini
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Dasia
Species:
D. griffini
Binomial name
Dasia griffini
Taylor, 1915

Etymology edit

The specific name, griffini, is in honor of American herpetologist Lawrence Edmonds Griffin (1874–1949).[4]

Description edit

Griffin’s keel-scaled tree skink may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 11 cm (4.3 in).[2]

Behavior and habitat edit

D. griffini is an arboreal lizard. It is found on tree trunks or aerial ferns 7 to 28 metres (23 to 92 ft) above the ground. It inhabits dipterocarp primary forests, at altitudes of 50–150 m (160–490 ft). More rarely, it is also found in coastal forests and scrubland.[1]

Reproduction edit

Griffin’s dasia is oviparous.[2]

Taxonomy edit

D. griffini belongs to the genus Dasia.[5] It is classified in the subfamily Mabuyinae of the skink family Scincidae.[2]

Conservation status edit

D. griffini is threatened by logging activities in its habitats.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Brown, R.; Dimalibot, J.; Rico, E.L. (2009). "Dasia griffini ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T169806A6676223. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169806A6676223.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Dasia griffini at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ Siler, Cameron. "Known distribution of Dasia griffini in the Philippines". Biodiversity Research & Education Outreach, Philippines. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25.
  4. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Dasia griffini, p. 108).
  5. ^ Inger, Robert F.; Brown, Walter C. (1980). "Species of the Scincid Genus Dasia Gray". Fieldiana Zoology. New Series. 3: 1–11. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.3190.

Further reading edit

  • Taylor EH (1915). "New Species of Philippine Lizards". Philippine Journal of Science 10: 89–109 + Plate I. (Dasia griffini, new species, p. 104 + Plate I, figures 5 & 6).