Lygosoma veunsaiense is a species of skink that is endemic to northeastern Cambodia. Its description as a new species was published in 2012, receiving both local and international publicity.Phnom Penh Post: Unknown lizard unearthedConservation International: Iridescent Lizard Discovered in Northeastern CambodiaOttawa Citizen: New rainbow lizard discovered in Cambodia
Discovery In 2010, at the remote rainforest area of Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia a Fauna and Flora International herpetologist, Thy Neang, first discovered Lygosoma veunsaiense. Peter Geissler from Museum Koenig in Germany, was one of the authors who described the skink.Fauna-Flora.org: Shiny new lizard discovered in northeast Cambodia
Description This type of lizard has iridescent rainbow skin with a long tail and short legs. The outer ear opening is absent; supranasals distinct and separated from each other by frontonasal; supranasals not fused with nasals; midbody scales in 22 rows; fontoparietals paired; five supralabial scales; a light stripe present on outer edge of the dorsum; and a dark dorsolateral stripe present, from behind the eye to the tail.
Habitat Lygosoma veunsaiense spends most of its life underground in the rainforest.Global Post: Cambodia's newest species discovery: a stumpy-legged rainbow lizard
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