Skink species

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Overview

Skinks (Scincidae) are one of five groups of lizards found in the area - the others are dragons, legless-lizards, geckos and monitors.

Generally skinks have smooth scales (in some species scales may be somewhat iridescent), often lack necks, and legs may be relatively small, reduced or lacking. Several genera have fewer than five toes (digits) on each foot. As a general rule, the longer the digits, the more arboreal the species is likely to be. In species with reduced limbs, their locomotion resembles that of snakes.

Most species of skinks have long, tapering tails, which can be shed if predators grab onto them and which can generally be regenerated, though imperfectly. Species with stumpy tails have no special regenerative abilities.

Skinks are generally carnivorous and in particular insectivorous. Typical prey includes flies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillar and for some species may include earthworms, millipedes, snails, slugs, isopods. other lizards, and small rodents. Skinks use their tongues to sniff the air and track their prey. They can chase down prey until they corner it or manage to land a bite and then swallow it whole.

Most spend their time underground where they are mostly safe from predators, and a common characteristic is digging and burrowing. Often they dig out tunnels for easy navigation.

Currently there are about 1500 species of skink worldwide, and in Australia about 33 genera and 320 species. However taxonomic research is constantly revising the classification of species.

There is some agreement that skinks consist of three broad branches (clads): Egernia Group (including local genera Cyclodomorphus, Egernia, Liopholis and Tiliqua), Eugongylus Group (including Acritoscincus, Carlia, Menetia, Morethia, Niveoscincus, Nannoscincus, Pseudemoia and Saproscincus), and Sphenomorphus Group (Ctenotus, Eulamprus and Hemiergis).

41 species

Acritoscincus duperreyi (Eastern Three-lined Skink)

Acritoscincus duperreyi
Acritoscincus duperreyi
Acritoscincus duperreyi

Acritoscincus platynotus (Red-throated Skink)

Acritoscincus platynotus
Acritoscincus platynotus
Acritoscincus platynotus

Carinascincus coventryi (Coventry’s Skink)

Carinascincus coventryi
Carinascincus coventryi
Carinascincus coventryi

Carlia tetradactyla (Southern Rainbow Skink)

Carlia tetradactyla
Carlia tetradactyla
Carlia tetradactyla

Cryptoblepharus sp. (genus) (Fence, snake-eyed or shining skinks)

Cryptoblepharus sp. (genus)
Cryptoblepharus sp. (genus)
Cryptoblepharus sp. (genus)

Ctenotus orientalis (Oriental Striped-skink)

Ctenotus orientalis
Ctenotus orientalis
Ctenotus orientalis

Ctenotus robustus (Robust Striped-skink)

Ctenotus robustus
Ctenotus robustus
Ctenotus robustus

Ctenotus sp. (genus) (A comb-eared skink)

Ctenotus sp. (genus)
Ctenotus sp. (genus)
Ctenotus sp. (genus)

Ctenotus taeniolatus (Copper-tailed Skink)

Ctenotus taeniolatus
Ctenotus taeniolatus
Ctenotus taeniolatus

Cyclodomorphus michaeli (Mainland She-oak Skink)

Cyclodomorphus michaeli
Cyclodomorphus michaeli
Cyclodomorphus michaeli

Cyclodomorphus praealtus (Alpine She-oak Skink)

Cyclodomorphus praealtus

Egernia cunninghami (Cunningham's Skink)

Egernia cunninghami
Egernia cunninghami
Egernia cunninghami

Egernia saxatilis (Black Rock Skink)

Egernia saxatilis
Egernia saxatilis
Egernia saxatilis

Eulamprus heatwolei (Yellow-bellied Water Skink)

Eulamprus heatwolei
Eulamprus heatwolei
Eulamprus heatwolei

Eulamprus kosciuskoi (Alpine Water Skink)

Eulamprus kosciuskoi
Eulamprus kosciuskoi
Eulamprus kosciuskoi

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