Lygosoma bowringii

Lygosoma bowringii .

– Lygosoma bowringii is another very successful overwater colonizer of the Seribuat Archipelago. Unlike Hemidactylus frenatus which is a renowned human commensal, the colonization of Lygosoma bowringii is most likely the result of natural events. This species occurs on 23 of the 62 islands. Some of the islands are extremely small (i.e., P. Tunas Selatan) whereas others are large and diverse (i.e., P. Tinggi and P. Tioman). What all these islands have in common is sandy beaches. Islands with rocky shorelines lacking sandy beach habitats are not inhabited by L. bowringii . Sandy beaches likely serve as an appropriate habitat for initial colonization. Although this species occurs in the leaf-litter of some of the islands’ interiors, it is extremely common beneath the surface debris and flotsam found along beaches. Its short limbs, elongate body, and smooth shiny scales facilitate this species ability to “sand-swim” to escape capture. On several occasions we have observed this species escaping by burrowing into and swimming through the sand. On P. Ibol, L. bowringii were also found to be common above ground moving about in the leaf litter following periods of precipitation.