Need some help with a lizard id.

[Hamster of Borg]

This guy turned up in a local pet shop, beat to hell as you can see - but anyway, I can't seem to figure out exactly what he is. He looks kind of like a rainbow lizard (whiptail), but the face looks more like some kind of a sandfish skink. Anyway... figured someone else might have some ideas. :)

http://www.ravnos.org/photos/z-lizards/mystery_lizard.jpg
http://www.ravnos.org/photos/z-lizards/mystery_lizard4.jpg
http://www.ravnos.org/photos/z-lizards/mystery_lizard5.jpg

Ham

[alex_33]

Thats horrible! what happened to him?
Too me it looks like a sandfish skink

[Tim and Julie B]

Looks a lot like a garden skink to me. Poor little guy. Sometimes I wonder why pet stores bring in such poorly treated animals, are they just looking for a good home for it or are they asking money?
Julie B.

[Pauly]

As much as it resembles a sandfish (and can be kept almost exactly like a sandfish) it is actually a dwarf plated lizard, tracheloptychus, most likely petersi. They are gerrhosaurids, and although you dont see them much when properly maintained (they are very strong burrowers) they are easy to keep and colorful.

[nicola_boulton]

ahhh hows sad. R u goin 2 buy him?

[peregrinefalcon]

Yes, it is definetely a dwarf (or rainbow) plated lizard and that is a bad burn on it's neck :( Are you going to buy him?
Adam