Tropidophorus murphyi

Tropidophorus murphyi
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Tropidophorus
Species:	T. murphyi
Binomial name
	Tropidophorus murphyi; Hikida, Orlov, Nabhitabhata & Ota, 2002

Last updated December 10, 2025

Tropidophorus murphyi, also known commonly as Murphy's water skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Sphenomorphinae of the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Vietnam.^[1]^[2]

Etymology

The specific name, murphyi, is in honor of Canadian herpetologist Robert Ward Murphy.^[3]^: 185

Description

Adult males of Tropidophorus murphyi have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 6.25–8.5 cm (2.46–3.35 in). Adult females are larger, about 8.0–9.5 cm (3.1–3.7 in) SVL.

Geographic distribution

Tropidophorus murphyi is found in northern Vietnam, in Cao Bang Province.^[1]^[2]

Habitat

The natural habitat of Tropidophorus murphyi is rocky streamsides in forest, at elevations of 700–750 m (2,300–2,460 ft).^[1]

Reproduction

Tropidophorus murphyi bears live young by ovoviviparity.^[1]^[2] Litter size is three to five neonates.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Nguyen, T.Q. (2018). "Tropidophorus murphyi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018 e.T104833688A104853875. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T104833688A104853875.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
1 2 3 Tropidophorus murphyi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 13 October 2020.
↑ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.

Bobrov, V.V.; Semenov, D.V. (2008). [Lizards of Vietnam]. Moscow: [KMK Scientific Press]. 236 pp. (in Russian).
Hikida, T.; Orlov, N.L.; Nabhitabhata, J.; Ota, H. (2002). "Three New Depressed-bodied Water Skinks of the Genus Tropidophorus (Lacertilia: Scincidae) from Thailand and Vietnam". Current Herpetology. 21 (1): 9–23. (Tropidophorus murphyi, new species, pp. 16–21, Figures 6–8).
Honda, M.; Ota, H.; Murphy, R.W.; Hikida, T. (2006). "Phylogeny and biogeography of water skinks of the genus Tropidophorus (Reptilia: Scincidae) a chemical approach". Zoologica Scripta. 35 (1): 85–95.
Nguyen, S.V.; Ho, C.T.; Nguyen, T.Q. (2009). Herpetofauna of Vietnam. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira / Serpents Tale. ISBN 978-3899734621. 768 pp.

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[iucn_status_20_November_2021-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nguyen, T.Q. (2018). "Tropidophorus murphyi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018 e.T104833688A104853875. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T104833688A104853875.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.

[RDB-2] 1 2 3 Tropidophorus murphyi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 13 October 2020.

[3] Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.

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