Brachymeles muntingkamay is one of only two currently recognized species in the genus Brachymeles to possess three fingers and three toes. The other known three-digit species is B. tridactylus, a morphologically similar species. It is a small and slender species with a very restricted known distribution in northern Luzon Island, Philippines. This species is known from a single mountain, Mt. Palali. 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 does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened status. Brachymeles muntingkamay has been documented to be quite abundant at all sampled localities. We therefore classify this species as Least Concern, LC (IUCN, 2010).
Brachymeles muntingkamay can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) presence of limbs, (2) three digits on fore and hind limbs, (3) small body size, SVL less than 85 mm, (4) pineal eye spot absent, (5) auricular openings absent, (6) prefrontals in contact, (7) frontoparietals not in contact, (8) postnasals absent, (9) postmental wider than mental, (10) first pair of chin shields not in contact, (11) scale spots covering body, (12) midbody scale rows 22–24, (13) paravertebral scale rows 85–90, (14) six supralabials, and (15) six infralabials.
Coloration in life remains unrecorded; however, because Brachymeles specimens do not change significantly during preservation (CDS and RMB, personal observation). Coloration in preservative: The ground color of the body is light brown, with each dorsal scale having a dark, chocolate-brown blotch on the posterior two thirds of the scale (Fig. 3). Each blotch does not correspond to the scale boundary, but extends to the anterior edge of the next most posterior scale. The blotches are present around the entire body, and gradually reduce in size laterally. Ventral scales have smaller blotches restricted to the posterior one-third of each scale. Caudals and subcaudals have blotches nearly homogeneous in size, and only slightly reduced ventrally, thereby giving the appearance of a darker tail color. Blotches range from irregular smears of dark colors (ventrally) to patterns of three background dots anteriorly followed by a smear of color posteriorly (dorsally). Forelimb scales are mottled light and medium brown with hind limb scales possessing a weakly defined pattern similar to the body scales. Precloacal scales have a darkly mottled (dark and light brown) pattern in contrast to the surrounding ventral scales. Head scales lack a spotting pattern, have mottled light and dark brown coloration, and are darker than the background body color. Supraocular scales posess the darkest brown coloration of all head scales. The rostral, nasal, supranasal, and first supralabial scales have a dark gray coloration, lacking any brown color. The mental scale is darkly mottled brown and dark brown and the chin shields are mottled brown and dark brown.
Brachymeles muntingkamay is known only from above 1400 m above sea level on Mt. Palali in the Caraballo Mountain Range, Barangay Maddiangat, Municipality of Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya Province, central Luzon Island, Philippines.
Brachymeles muntingkamay occurs in primary and secondary forests. Females were found in the humus material within rotting logs and in loose forest soil. No males have been collected. When disturbed, individuals attempt to burrow back into loose soil or humus, moving in a rapid, serpentine manner.
The name of the species is derived from the Tagalog (Filipino) terms “munti,” meaning small, and “kamay,” meaning hand, to represent the species’ small, reduced limbs, and reduced number of digits. Suggested common name: Caraballo Mountains Slender skink.
Luzon Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex (PAIC; Brown and Diesmos, 2002).
Brachymeles muntingkamay is well camouflaged within soil and humus, and individuals have been observed only after the rotting logs and soil habitats were disturbed.
The new species is morphologically most similar to Brachymeles tridactylus, the only other species with three fore- and hind limb digits, and B. elerae, the only other non-pentadactyl species to possess dark scale spots on each scale. From Brachymeles tridactylus, the new species differs by having a shorter mean tail length, longer limbs, fewer axilla–groin scale rows, more supraciliaries and supraoculars, prefrontals in contact, no contact between the first pair of enlarged chin shields, and the absence of a pineal eyespot and enlarged, differentiated nuchal scales. From Brachymeles elerae, the new species differs by having shorter forelimbs, frontoparietals not in contact, postmental wider than mental scale, discontinuous subocular scale row, and enlarged, differentiated subdigital lamellae absent.
Two large eggs were observed in the uterus of gravid females.
SVL 61.8–81.3 mm
The Caraballo Mountains loam-swimming skink (Brachymeles muntingkamay) is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines.[1]
The Caraballo Mountains loam-swimming skink (Brachymeles muntingkamay) is a species of skink endemic to the Philippines.
