CARL MARSHALL: News from the Stratford Butterfly Farm

Recently donated to us by the R.S.P.C.A and erroneously identified by them as a "house gecko" this little neotropical skink (Scincinae) was discovered by a family snuggling in their luggage on return from a holiday to Barbados.

The little malnourished "Skinklett" came in to us last friday (Fri 7th) in a plastic container with a few slices of apple, and is now happily gaining strength on its new, more sustainable, diet of mainly vitamin/calcium laced grade one locusts (gut loaded) and Reptojelly.

We think this is a member of the large Mabuya genus (Mabuya sp.). It is covered dorsally and ventrally by overlapping scales with Osteoderms underlying the scales dorsally and ventrally on the trunk.

If anybody can be more specific with this species exact nomenclature please do comment.

He is about 2 inches long (50.8mm) and we have named him Colin.