Brahminy Skink

Description:

This looks like a baby Brahminy skink, judging from the fact that it has such a colorful tail. Among the reptiles the most neglected is the Skink. Leave aside the common people, even the experts don’t have much information about them. Of these greatly neglected, less studied and very secretive animals is the most common skink of India, Brahminy Skink or Keeled Grass Skink (Mabuya carinata). It has a robust bronze brown body with 2 lateral yellow stripes and a chocolate brown band on top. The legs are well developed. It grows upto a length of 290mm of which 170 mm is tail. This skink is equally at home in rural as well as urban environment. It frequently enters houses in search of prey. It mainly feeds upon crickets, caterpillars, beetles, earth worms etc. Though skinks are mainly ground dwelling creature, it is a very good climber also. I have seen it climb 6’-8’ vertical cemented wall with ease. And it is good at living in urban space like a 2nd floor rooftop garden. http://rivughorai.blogspot.com/2011/10/h...