''Silvascincus tryoni'', the Border Ranges blue-spectacled skink or forest skink, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of lizard in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Scincidae. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the

McPherson Range The McPherson Range is an extensive mountain range, a spur of the Great Dividing Range, heading in an easterly direction from near Wallangarra, Queensland, Wallangarra to the Pacific Ocean coastline. It forms part of the Scenic Rim on the border ...

bordering New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.

Etymology

The specific name, ''tryoni'', is in honor of English scientist

Henry Tryon Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

(1856–1943).Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Eulamprus tryoni'', p. 268).

Description

This species can grow to in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the mos ...

. It has well-defined, dark transverse dorsal markings on light to mid-brown background.

Reproduction

''Silvascincus tryoni'' is

viviparous In animals, viviparity is development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, with the maternal circulation providing for the metabolic needs of the embryo's development, until the mother gives birth to a fully or partially developed juve ...

. A female measuring in snout–vent length and in total length gave birth to five young measuring in snout–vent length.

Habitat and conservation

''Silvascincus tryoni'' occurs in highland closed subtropical rainforest at elevations of

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level ...

. Specimens have been found on logs and rocks, under decayed logs, and sunning at the base of a hollow giant stinging tree ''

Dendrocnide excelsa ''Dendrocnide'' is a genus of approximately 40 species of plants in the nettle family ''Urticaceae''. They have a wide distribution across North East India, Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. In Australia they are commonly known a ...

''. When disturbed, they seek refuge under rocks and logs. ''Silvascincus tryoni'' might be at least locally common. Its range is small but coincides, perhaps entirely, with protected areas, including

Lamington A lamington is an Australian cake made from squares of butter cake or sponge cake coated in an outer layer of chocolate sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut. The thin mixture is absorbed into the outside of the sponge cake and left to set, ...

and

Border Ranges National Park The Border Ranges National Park is a state park, protected national park that is located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. A small portion of the national park is also located in South East Queensland. The park is situ ...

s. It is unlikely to be facing any major threats.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3060332, from2=Q43334814 Silvascincus Skinks of Australia Reptiles of New South Wales Reptiles of Queensland Endemic fauna of Australia Reptiles described in 1918 Taxa named by Albert Heber Longman Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN