Skinks


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).


Skinks

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Discussion

JimL wrote:
12 Feb 2025
New species suggestion based on iNaturalist recording at site.

Unidentified Skink
int13 wrote:
10 Feb 2025
Agreed

Egernia cunninghami
wombey wrote:
10 Feb 2025
A recent revision restricts decresiensis to SA leaving talbingoensis as the available name for the one here

Hemiergis talbingoensis
DonFletcher wrote:
10 Feb 2025
Hi Int13, Thanks for reporting. It is a Cunningham's Skink. They live in family groups, mostly based on rock outcrops and feed mainly on vegetation. Near their home base, you should see them around quote often.

Adult Rosenberg's Goannas are several times larger and are independent.

Egernia cunninghami
HelenCross wrote:
8 Feb 2025
Morethia ruficauda

Unidentified Skink
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