Ground Skink

Description:

The ground skink is small, smooth, and brown with a dark stripe along its side, and averages a length of 3 to 5.5 inches long from tip to tail. The shade of brown varies from reddish or chocolate to light golden brown and often matches the leaf litter where the lizard lives. Regenerated tales are a much lighter color. The skink's underbelly is typically a very pale yellow or white. It's covered in very tiny scales, which makes the skink appear slimy or wet in appearance. Ground skinks--as their name implies--remain on the ground. The skink has a well-developed sense of smell, making it capable of tracking prey by scent.

Habitat:

Leaf litter on hillside in wildlife habitat yard overlooking Belton Lake. I watched this little guy several minutes, only catching brief glimpses as it moved through the leaves. Patience finally won an it came out in the open.

Notes:

Ground skinks can be locally abundant, but most people wouldn't even know they existed. They are fairly secretive and spend most of their time rooting through leaf litter looking for food. Usually the only clue of their presence is the rustling of the leaves.