REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE: Egernia

Egernia inornata Rosén, 1905

Desert skink

Photo & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland with data provided by Gerry Swan. Specimen shown photographed at Yathong Nature Preserve, NSW, Australia, October 1999.

Range: A swath through central Australia from the coast of Western Australia east to central Queensland and western NSW and Victoria.

Diagnosis: A distinctly blunt-snouted, sausage-like lizard with a golden brown back, gray to whitish sides, and numerous tiny black spots on both. The limbs are small but stout. The lips are tan or cream with a few black markings. Grows to 8 cm/3.5 inches SVL.

Description:  

Close-up of the same lizard shown above.

Natural History: A stout, active, diurnal lizard found in areas with loose soils where the skinks may burrow. They frequent the areas under protective Triodia plants and may have burrows under the plants. They are active predators that feed upon spiders, insects and scorpions.

Reproduction: Females give birth, with a clutch ranging from 2 to 4 large offspring.

Taxonomy & Relationships:

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen:

 Literature:  Click on book to order a copy

Cogger, Harold. 1999. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 6th edition. Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-88359-048-4.

Cogger, Harold. 1995. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 5th edition. Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-8014-2739-8.

Ehmann, Harald. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian animals: Reptiles. Angus & Robertson. ISBN: 0-207-17379-6.

Greer, Allen. 1989. The biology & evolution of Australian lizards. Surrey Beatty & Sons. ISBN: 0-949324-21-3.

Hauschild, Andree and Paul Gaßner. 1995. Skinke im Terrarium. Landbuch Verlag, Hannover. ISBN: 3-7842-0516-X.

Hoser, Raymond. 1989. Australian reptiles & frogs. Pierson & Co. ISBN: 0-947068-08-2. 

Hutchinson, Mark. 1981. The systematic relationships of the genera Egernia and Tiliqua (Lacertilia: Scincidae). A review and immunological reassessment. Proceedings of the Melbourne Herpetological Symposium: 176-193.