Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 1045-1048 (2020) (published online on 14 December 2020) New habitat and altitudinal records for the enigmatic Eutropis englei Taylor, 1925 in southern Mindanao, Philippines Kier Mitchel E. Pitogo1,*, Tristan Luap P. Senarillos2, Maria N. Tubera3, and Anthony J. Barley4 The Philippine sun skinks of the Eutropis multicarinata in Digos City, Davao del Sur Province to E. englei species complex are widely distributed throughout based on vertebral scale count, but this assignment is the archipelago and are largely endemic, with the tenuous given the differences in colour pattern (three exception of some clades that also occur in Taiwan and dark stripes in dorsum vs. five in E. englei) and the the island of Borneo (Ota, 1991; Barley et al., 2020). locality where they were found (Barley et al., [2020] A recent multilocus molecular analysis revealed the suggested they may represent an additional undescribed presence of numerous distinct genetic clades with species). Our current knowledge of E. englei is based overlapping distributions (Barley et al., 2013). These on these limited early observations and is manifested lineages were recently described into distinct species by its Data Deficient status in the IUCN Red List of by Barley et al., (2020) and the distribution of the Threatened Species (IUCN, 2020). Here, we report a nominal form, E. multicarinata, was restricted to new record of habitat and altitudinal distribution for the northeast Mindanao, Samar and Leyte. The phylogentic enigmatic E. englei and provide the first photograph of relationship of Eutropis englei (a species assigned to the a live individual of this species available in scientific E. multicarinata complex by Brown and Alcala [1980]) literature (Figure 1). was not yet assigned, due to the lack of new materials During a rapid biodiversity assessment on 17-22 and genetic information. June 2020 in the lowland evergreen forest in the west The phenotypically distinct E. englei was described side of Batian village in Maitum, Sarangani Province by Edward H. Taylor from his collection trip in 1923 in (6.168910°N 124.499500°E), a few individuals the Cotabato coast, southern Mindanao (type locality: of sun skink were seen in open-canopy trails and Saub, Cotabato Province [now Sarangani], Mindanao; kaingin (slash-and-burn) areas. We were able to Taylor, 1925). Individuals were collected in vegetation on sandy beaches and in open estuarine areas and none were observed in the forests. Since its description, no additional specimens have been forthcoming. Brown and Alcala (1980) assigned three specimens collected 1 Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna Province, Philippines. 2 Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc., Philippine Eagle Center, Malagos, Davao City, Philippines. 3 Community Environment and Natural Resources Office RXII- 4A, Kiamba, Sarangani Province 4 School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI Figure 1. A photo of a live individual of Eutropis englei on a 96822, USA. leaf taken in Sitio Angko, Batian village, Maitum, Sarangani, * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Philippines at 420 m a.s.l. Photo credits: K.M. Pitogo 1046 Kier Mitchel E. Pitogo et al. capture one individual for closer inspection. It had is approximately 23 kilometres from Saub coast where five dark longitudinal stripes on the dorsum, a broad the holotype specimen was collected in 1923. brown lateral stripe from behind the eyes to above the Individuals of E. englei were commonly observed hindleg, lighter labials with small dark spots, a cream mostly in open canopy agriculture areas, along the trails, to light orange belly, and bluish throat (Figure 2). All and in the leaf litter of forest edges ranging in altitude these characters agree with the description of the type between 100 and 500 meters above sea level (m a.s.l.) specimen of E. englei in southern Mindanao (Taylor, (Figure 3). Some were observed around the vicinity of 1925). Based on the superficial aspects of colouration houses climbing up cement walls, suggesting that E. in this specimen (i.e., dorsal pattern and bluish throat), englei can tolerate disturbance. These were new habitat it is understandable why E. H. Taylor may have and altitudinal records for this species, as E. englei were hypothesised it was more closely related to E. rugifera previously recorded only in coastal habitats (Taylor, than E. multicarinata (as opposed to Brown and Alcala 1925). Consistent with E. H. Taylor’s observations, we [1980] who hypothesised the opposite based primarily did not find E. englei individuals inside the forest or in on scalation traits). More individuals of E. englei were closed canopy areas where the other congener species seen in the eastern side of Batian village, occupying were mostly observed (Eutropis cuprea and Eutropis similar habitats during our separate survey on 1-5 July lapulapu). 2020 (6.141670°N 124.514086°E). They were observed Previous herpetological field surveys throughout active between 09:00 and 16:00 hour when there was Mindanao Island have not recorded E. englei except for enough sunlight. The forest in Batian village is at the the two dubious records in the Hamiguitan Mountain southwestern portion of the Busa Mountain Range and Range (Relox et al., 2011; Mohagan et al., 2019). Both studies recorded E. englei only in higher altitudes (more than 1000 m a.s.l.) in the region, which represent unlikely extensions of geographic distribution (>200 kilometres into a biogeographically distinct area) and altitudinal range for this species, which is thought to be endemic to the coasts of southwestern Mindanao. Notably, E. englei was not recorded at higher altitudes on Mt. Busa, Sarangani Province during a recent extensive herpetological survey despite the fact that it was found in high abundance in nearby suitable habitats (see Pitogo, 2020). Thus, it appears that E. englei is restricted to lowland habitats (possibly below 500 m in elevation) and has a preference for open habitats in southwestern Mindanao. We did not identify obvious threats to E. englei population in the area that requires immediate conservation actions, as significant patches of forest still exist in the region, and the species appears tolerant of disturbance. However, there are too few legally protected areas in the lowlands of southwestern Mindanao to guarantee the long-term protection of E. englei and its habitats. With this thriving population, we plan to obtain additional specimens and genetic data to redescribe E. englei and determine its phylogenetic affinity. This development Figure 2. Photographs of Eutropis englei showing its distinct will improve our understanding of the vertebrate wildlife colour pattern (snout to vent length= 72 mm; tail length= 101 diversification in the Philippines (Brown et al., 2013). mm). A: broad brown lateral stripe from behind the eye to above the hindleg and lighter labials with small dark spots; B: To our knowledge, our observation is the first verifiable five longitudinal stripes on dorsum (the median and the outer scientific record of this species since its description and two stripes are widest); C: cream to light orange ventrum and adds to a growing list of herpetological discoveries in a bluish throat. Photo credits: K.M. Pitogo (A-C) southern Mindanao based on limited field surveys in the New habitat and altitudinal records for the Eutropis englei, Philippines 1047 Figure 3. New habitats and altitudinal records for Eutropis englei in the lowland evergreen forest in Maitum, Sarangani Province between 100 and 500 m a.s.l. A: open-canopy agriculture areas; B: near households: C: along trails and forest edges; D: an individual of E. englei observed in the vicinity of houses suggesting a tolerance to disturbance. Photo credits: K.M. Pitogo (A-C) and Archristine P. Saragena (D). region (Siler et al., 2011, 2012; Brown, 2015; Barley et References al., 2020). These discoveries highlight the importance Barley, A.J., White, J., Diesmos, A. C., Brown, R. M. (2013): The of continued field-based investigations on Mindanao challenge of species delimitation at the extremes: Diversification which still remains a huge knowledge gap in Philippine without morphological change in Philippine sun skinks. herpetological research. Evolution 67: 3556–3572. Barley, A. J., Diesmos, A. C., Siler, C. D., Martinez, C. M., Brown, Acknowledgement. We would like to thank the Philippine R. M. (2020): Taxonomic revision of Philippine sun skinks Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae: Eutropis), and descriptions of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Region eight new species. Herpetological Monographs 34: 39–70. XII-4A for the opportunity to join the rapid biodiversity Brown, R. M. (2015): A new species of stream frog of the Genus assessment in Dakeol Forest in Barangay Batian, Maitum, Hylarana from the mountains of Southern Mindanao Island, Sarangani Province for its declaration as a Critical Habitat for the Philippines. Herpetologica 71(3): 223–233. Philippine eagles and other threatened wildlife. We also appreciate Brown, R. M., Siler, C. D., Oliveros, C. H., Esselstyn, J. A., Diesmos, the helpful comments and suggestions given by Arvin Diesmos in A. C., Hosner, P. A., Linkem, C. W., Barley, A. J., Oaks, J. R., the early draft of this manuscript. This fieldwork was done under Sanguila, M. B., Welton, L. J., Blackburn, D. C., Moyle, R. G., Gratuitous Permit No. 2019-23 issued by the DENR-12. Townsend, P. A., Alcala, A. C. (2013): Evolutionary processes of 1048 Kier Mitchel E. Pitogo et al. diversification in a model island archipelago. Annual Review of Relox, R.E., Leaño, E. P., Bates-Camino, F. (2011): Herpetofaunal Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 44(1): 411–435. endemism and diversity in tropical forests of Mt. Hamiguitan Brown, W.C., and A.C. Alcala. (1980): Philippine Lizards of the in the Philippines. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 6: Family Scincidae.