About Lamprolepis smaragdina (Lesson, 1829)
Coloration
The emerald tree skink, Lamprolepis smaragdina, is typically bright lime green with large black eyes that have yellow rims. Its rear limbs or the lower half of its body may be medium brown with white speckling; in some cases, the entire body is brown or speckled with black.
Size
Adults generally reach a total length of 8.5 to 10 inches.
Natural Range
This species lives in arboreal forests across Taiwan, the Palawan, Luzon, Davao and Sulu archipelagoes of the Philippines, New Guinea, the Indo-Australian archipelago, and extends south to the Solomon and Santa Cruz islands.
Habitat
It is also frequently found in palm plantations in disturbed coastal areas.
Courtship Ritual
Its courtship ritual matches that of most lizards.
Reproduction
Unlike most members of the skink family, which bear live young, the emerald tree skink is oviparous and lays eggs. Eggs are typically laid in clusters of two.
Captivity Traits
This species breeds easily in captivity, and captive individuals have an average lifespan of 7 to 12 years.
