The Taiwan alpine skink is one of the endemic lizard species distributed primarily in the 2,200m high alpine regions of the Central Mountain Range. It was discovered in 1987 by Professor Shi- Huang Cheng and Professor Guang-Yang Lu of the National Taiwan Normal University . The holotype specimen is preserved at the Department of Life Science of the National Taiwan Normal University . These lizards have been discovered in regions such as Mount HeHuan , Alishan, the Batongguan ancient trail, Mount Xiang Yang and Tianchih; however, with so few numbers documented, they are now designated as a protected species. Therefore, few data is available on their lifestyles and behaviors. The Alpine skink is similar in appearance to the Indian forest skink, albeit with a smaller stature. Due to the lack of data, the information presented here will be based on specimens available to the museum.
The adult alpine skink body length ranges from 51 to 61mm long, and weighs about 1.9 to 5 grams. Most alpine skinks have smooth yellow abdomens.
They feed primarily on alpine insects and other arthropods, grazing and living in rock roles on alpine grass fields. They especially thrive in the crevices of rock walls erected by farmers, which provide them with suitable shelter from predators and are ideal for nesting purposes. The Taiwan alpine skinks are diurnal animals and like to sunbathe during the day, lying leisurely at the entrance of their caverns. When large predators approach, they can swiftly escape back into their lairs. Sometimes Hsueshan grass lizards can be seen near their lairs, but they co-exist peacefully without confrontation. Nevertheless, the alpine skinks need to leave their hideouts in order to feed, foraging in cabbage fields or the Yushania niitakayamensis fields, and sometimes prey on insects like bees and butterflies in flowering bushes not far from their homes. During May to June, the nine Alpine skinks that are kept in the museum bear eggs, ranging from 4 to 8 eggs each. It seemed that the larger the maternal body is, the more eggs it will lay. A female that has a body length above 61mm will tend to lay 7 to 8 eggs at a time. There are no mature eggs in the females around July; therefore it is presumed that their spawning period is between May and July.