Reptile
Rough-scaled Sun Skink
Eutropis rugiferaAlso known as Nicobar Island Skink, Rough-scaled Skink
Rough-scaled sun skinks spend their days darting across the tropical forest floor, hunting insects through dense leaf litter and basking in dappled sunbeams. Unlike many common garden skinks, they remain closely tied to undisturbed forest interiors and riverbanks, where their heavily keeled scales give them a dull, textured appearance that blends seamlessly with rotting wood. When threatened, they sprint with surprising speed into subterranean burrows or root crevices to escape predators.
DiurnalReptileForest Floor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyTermites, Spiders, Beetles
Predators
- Forest snakes
- Birds of prey
- Civets
ThreatsHabitat loss from logging, agricultural expansion, and forest fires
HabitatsTropical moist lowland forests, leaf litter, and stream corridors
Life span3–6 years
Classification
- FamilyScincidae
- SpeciesEutropis rugifera
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation Timing: Scan sunlit patches of forest floor during mid-morning when individuals emerge to bask.
- Approach Quietly: Step softly on forest trails, as vibrations through the ground send them scurrying.
Image unavailableEcological Neighbor 
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative J.M.Garg / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
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