Lesser Sunda Dark-throated Skink

Sphenomorphus melanopogon is a forest skink in the variegatus group. Specialists distinguish it by finely striated back scales, overlapping scales from the top of the foot extending onto the sole between the fourth and fifth toes, and at least three supraocular scales touching the frontal. It also has rounded scales beneath the digits, small lobes at the ear opening and a characteristic postmental contact pattern (Shea 2012; Reptile Database).

The species lays eggs and is recorded from Timor, Flores, Komodo, Java, the Kei, Banda and Babar groups and other parts of southern Wallacea. The original type locality was mistakenly given as New Holland and later corrected to Timor. Reptile Database and modern phylogenomic work do not include Sulawesi in its range, so this site's placement and English name require correction rather than a fabricated Sulawesi occurrence (Shea 2012; Karin et al. 2022).