Skink Facts
Skink Facts
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| Interesting Skink Facts: |
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| Size of skink depends on the species. Smaller species are usually 3 inches long, while large species can reach 14 inches in length. |
| Skinks are often confused with snakes, because they have very short neck, small legs and snake-like body motion. |
| Color of the skink body resembles the color of their environment. They can easily blend in the environment and hide from the predators if they remain motionless. |
| Due to small size, skinks have a lot of natural enemies. Main predators of skinks are: cats, dogs, foxes, raccoons, snakes, large lizards, birds of prey… |
| Skinks can survive in different climates by living various lifestyles. Most species are arboreal (spend their life in trees), some of them are terrestrial (spend their life on the ground) or aquatic (spend their life near or in the water). |
| Since they are cold-blooded animals, skinks enjoy basking on the rocks during the day. |
| Most skinks are diurnal (active during the day) animals. They feed mostly on insects such as cockroaches, caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers. Larger species of skinks will hunt smaller rodents, snails, slugs and other lizards. Plants (in smaller percent) are also part of their normal diet. |
| Because of their insect-oriented diet, most people consider that skinks are valuable lizards that clean gardens from pests. |
| Skinks do not have to eat every day, but when the food is available - they will not skip a chance to fill their bellies. |
| Certain skinks have green blood. Unique color of the blood is result of accumulation of the green, bile pigment called biliverdin. |
| Just like most lizards, skinks are able to detach their tail in the case of danger. Tail will re-grow until it reaches its previous size. This process can take long period of time and it requires a lot of energy. |
| Skinks are territorial animals that will guard their nests by standing in front of them. |
| Certain species of skinks give birth to live babies while others lay eggs. |
| Egg-laying species usually have between 10 and 30 eggs. Hatching period lasts around one month. Skinks do not show parental care. Young skinks are left on their own from the moment they are born or hatch. |
| Depending on the species, average lifespan of skink can vary from 5 to 20 years. |
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