Wildlifeof India
Riopa lineata
Skinks & Lacertids
Photo: (c) Meehir Pawar, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA (May be cropped or resized)
Riopa lineata
Basic stats
Diet
Termites, mosquitoes, house flies and ant eggs (captive animal)
Habitat
Under rocks and loose soil near termite mounds and ant hills
Range
Northern Western Ghats, India, from Gujarat to north Karnataka; Bangladesh and Myanmar
Size
About 6cm
The lined writhing skink, or lined supple skink, is known from India (the northern Western Ghats), Bangladesh and Myanmar. It grows to about 6 cm. The body is golden and each scale has a black dot, forming lengthwise stripes along the body (Wikipedia, general species account).
It occurs from Gujarat to north of Karnataka. In Mumbai it has been seen in Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the Aarey milk colony. It is often found under rocks and in loose soil associated with termite mounds and ant hills. A captive individual accepted termites, mosquitoes, house flies and ant eggs for about 45 days and was then released.
Quick answers
- What does the Riopa lineata eat?
- Termites, mosquitoes, house flies and ant eggs (captive animal)
- What habitat does the Riopa lineata live in?
- Under rocks and loose soil near termite mounds and ant hills
- Where is the Riopa lineata found?
- Northern Western Ghats, India, from Gujarat to north Karnataka; Bangladesh and Myanmar
- How big is the Riopa lineata?
- About 6cm