Borneo skink or striped tree skink, Dasia vittata (Edeling, 1865) – of Borneo

Dasia vittata is an arboreal oviparous skink endemic to the island of Borneo, occurring in Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is most often seen on trunks and branches in lowland forest and coastal vegetation, and is readily recognized by pale longitudinal striping on the head and neck over an olive brown body with light flecking. Field observations and gut content studies characterize it as an ant eater, consistent with its arboreal habits. The species is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It was described by A C J Edeling in 1865 as Apterygodon vittatum and later placed in Dasia. The genus Dasia was established by Gray with Dasia olivacea as type species and is treated as feminine. The specific epithet vittata is the feminine form of the Latin adjective vittatus meaning banded, from vitta band or ribbon, and agrees in gender with the genus; common names include Borneo skink and striped tree skink.