Brachymeles tungaoi was described in 2010. For years it was considered part of a widespread Philippine species, B. talinis, until close investigation of genetic and morphological data revealed this northern Philippine species to be unique. It is considered one of the larger species in the genus, and is known only from Masbate Island in the Philippines. B. tungaoi has five fingers and five toes. The genus Brachymeles represents a unique group of semi-burrowing (semi-fossorial) lizards in that the group possesses species with a full spectrum of body forms, from limbed species with five fingers and five toes, to fully limbless species. Researchers are interested in the process and patterns behind the evolution of these drastic changes in body form. With the exception of two species from Borneo (B. apus) and Thailand (B. miriamae), all species of Brachymeles are endemic to the Philippines. This means they are found among the more than 7,000 Philippine islands and nowhere else in the world.
We have evaluated this species against the IUCN criteria for classification, and find that it qualifies for the status of Vulnerable, VU, based on the following criteria: VU B2ab(iii); D2 (IUCN, 2010).
Brachymeles tungaoi can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) body size moderate (SVL 78.2–106.2 mm); (2) relative tail length long; (3) pentadactyl; (3) Finger-III lamellae five or six; (4) Toe-IV lamellae nine or ten; (5) limb length moderate; (6) paravertebral scale rows 66–68; (7) supralabials seven; (8) infralabials six; (9) pineal eye spot present, large; (10) supranasals in contact; (11) prefrontals not contacting on midline; (12) contact between first pair of chin shields; (13) enlarged chin shields in two pairs; (14) nuchal scales undifferentiated; (15) fifth and sixth supralabial below eye; (16) auricular opening present; (17) continuous, light dorsolateral stripes present, indistinct; (18) continuous, dark mid-dorsal stripes present; (19) dark lateral stripes present; and (20) dark ventral pigmentation absent.
Coloration in life is unrecorded; however, because Brachymeles specimens do not change significantly during preservation (CDS, RMB personal observation), we suspect that the preserved coloration and patterns are much like those in life. Coloration in preservative: Ground color of body medium brown; dorsal surface of body with eight continuous, longitudinal rows of dark-brown spots, extending from posterior edge of parietals to base of tail; spot rows span six full and two half rows of scales at midbody, narrowing to four full and two half rows of scales posterior to parietals; pigmentation covering middle one third of dorsal scales; dorsolateral stripes indistinct, discontinuous, spanning one whole and two half row of scales from auricular opening to midbody. Lateral and ventral surface of body light-brown. Lateral surface with three discontinuous rows of dark-brown spots, spanning posterior two thirds of axilla–groin distance. Ventral surface without dark pigmentation. Tail with dark dorsal blotches and spots; dark pigment reduced ventrally. Head scales homogeneous dark brown; rostral, nasal, postnasal, supranasal, first supralabial, mental, and first infralabial light gray; pineal eyespot large distinct, light cream. Limbs mottled medium to dark brown dorsally, yellowish brown ventrally; dorsal and ventral surface of digits dark brown.
Brachymeles tungaoi is known only from Masbate Island, Philippines.
When disturbed, individuals immediately moved in a rapid serpentine manner and attempted to burrow back into loose soil or humus.
The species is named for a dedicated field assistant of Dr. Rafe Brown and Cameron Siler, Jason B. “Tungao” Fernandez. Suggested common name: Tungao’s Slender Skink.
Visayan (Central) Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex (PAIC; Brown and Diesmos, 2002).
Brachymeles tungaoi occurs in agricultural areas as well as disturbed and secondary growth forest habitat. Little or no original, low elevation forest remains on Masbate Island, but it is assumed the species once also occurred in primary forest. Individuals have been observed in the humus material within the rotting stumps of trees.
Brachymeles tungaoi most closely resembles B. kadwa, B. makusog, B. talinis, and B. vindumi, but differs from these four taxa by having a smaller body size, smaller midbody width, greater relative tail length, the first and second pairs of enlarged chin shields equal in width, and contact between the first pair of enlarged chin shields. Brachymeles tungaoi can be further distinguished from B. kadwa by having nine or ten Toe-IV lamellae, paravertebral scale rows 66–68, frontoparietal in contact, and by the absence of dark ventral pigmentation; from B. makusog by having seven supralabials, six infralabials, the fifth and sixth supralabial below the eye, supranasals in moderate contact, the presence of continuous, light dorsolateral stripes, continuous, dark mid-dorsal stripes, and dark lateral stripes; from B. talinis by having nine or ten Toe-IV lamellae, 66–68 paravertebrals, infralabials six; and from B. vindumi by having five or six Finger-III lamellae, 26–28 midbody scale rows, and 66–68 paravertebrals.
SVL 78.2–106.2 mm
Tungao's slender skink (Brachymeles tungaoi) is a species of skinks found in the Philippines, in the Scincidae family.[1]
This species is endemic from the island of Masbate in Philippines.[1]
This species is named in honor of Jason B. "Tungao" Fernandez.[1]
Cameron D. Siler and Rafe M. Brown "Phylogeny-based Species Delimitation in Philippine Slender Skinks (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: Brachymeles): Taxonomic Revision of Pentadactyl Species Groups and Description of Three New Species," Herpetological Monographs 24(1), 1–54, (1 December 2010). https://doi.org/10.1655/HERPMONOGRAPHS-D-10-00003.1
Tungao's slender skink (Brachymeles tungaoi) is a species of skinks found in the Philippines, in the Scincidae family.
