Grey-brown to bronze, with a dark stripe running along each side of its body from its nostril, across its eye to its tail, getting wider from its front legs. Its body pales below the stripe to a cream belly.

This species has a lighter body with a less obvious stripe running along its sides than the Southern Garden Skink.

Size

8 - 10 cm (nose to end of tail).

Behaviour

Diet

Small insects and other invertebrates.

Movement

Active day and night, although it sometimes basks in the sun to raise its body temperature. It forages amongst leaves, grasses and debris, particularly in gardens and bushland areas.

Breeding

Mating occurs in spring after which the female lays between one and seven small, white rubbery eggs. The eggs are often deposited in a nest shared by other individuals, and up to 250 eggs have been found together. The eggs hatch in mid-summer and females can have more than one clutch per season in years of good rainfall. Second matings occur in late summer and the female stores the sperm to fertilise her eggs the following spring. After those eggs are laid, another mating in spring will produce another clutch.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Reptiles
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common
  • Did You Know?
    • Often caught and eaten by cats
    • Skinks are the most diverse and largest group of lizards in Australia with around 325 species
    • Only the Southern garden skink (L. guichenoti) has two clutches per season in years of good rainfall, as the rain increases the amount of vegetation and associated insects and invertebrates, which means more food for skinks
  • What to Observe

    • Courting/Mating

    • Presence of juveniles

    • Hatched eggs

    Climate Adaptations

    We expect skinks to start mating and laying eggs earlier in the year as a result of global heating. We may notice an increase in the number of females having more than one clutch per season as a result of warmer temperatures beyond the summer period. They may also start appearing in new areas as warmer temperatures enable them to live in environments that were previously too cold for them.

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • From September through to February
    • Mating occurs in spring and late summer
    • Eggs hatch in mid-summer and in spring (if two clutches per season)

    Where To Look

    • Along the eastern and southern coast of mainland Australia, from northern Queensland south into South Australia, and in eastern and northern Tasmania; but not in the semi-arid regions of the eastern states
    • In wooded habitats, most commonly open grassy woodland at low altitudes, and often in suburban gardens
    • Amongst leaves, grasses and debris in gardens and bushland, and on pathways or brick fences where they might be basking
  • What Else?

    Similar Species

    Eastern Water Skink is larger when adult (25 - 30 cm long), with small black spots on its back and white and black spots on its side.

    Blue-tongue Lizard is larger, with a tail shorter than its body, and doesn’t have the stripe running along each side of its body.

  • Trails: Anakie Gorge VIC, Australian National Botanic Gardens ACT, Bellarine Peninsula - Barwon Coast & Ocean Grove Nature Reserve VIC, Bendigo Kennington Reservoir VIC, Bournda EEC NSW, Cape Conran VIC, Cumberland Land Conservancy Wallaroo NSW, Ecolinc Bacchus Marsh VIC, Grampians NP Venus Baths VIC, Gresswell Forest VIC, Kangaroo Valley PS NSW, Killalea State Park NSW, Macquarie University NSW, Marramarra NP NSW, Morwell NP VIC, Newhaven College VIC, Organ Pipes NP VIC, Randwick Coastal Walkway NSW, Reedy Swamp Shepparton VIC, Ricketts Point VIC, Rocky Creek Dam NSW, Rumbalara EEC NSW, Serendip Sanctuary VIC, Sunshine Coast Kawana Forest QLD, Tyrendarra IPA VIC, University of Sydney NSW, Urrbrae Wetland SA, Valley Reserve Mount Waverley VIC, Werribee Open Range Zoo VIC, Wilsons Promontory NP Tidal River VIC, Yarra Bend Park VIC
  • Species Region: Australia