A pair of South American Spotted Skinks (Copeoglossum nigropunctatum)

Copeoglossum nigropunctatum is a species of skink found in South America. It has shiny bronze or copper skin, with a dark longitudinal stripe along each flank that is often bordered by cream-colored lines.

It was until recently confused with Varzea bistriata, many populations of which have since been reassigned to C. nigropunctatum. It was formerly considered a synonym of the closely related Mabuya mabouya, which is found in the Caribbean. The taxonomy of all these related skinks has.. more