General Description

Highly variable in appearance, this skink may be a complex of related species. Variable in colouration and patterning and may exhibit regional differences in body proportions and appearance. Brown to bronze in colour with a tendency towards metallic rose or orange on their underside. Occasionally exhibiting a darker longitudinal stripe on its back and prominent mid lateral stripe. Head indistinct from body and scales behind the eyes fused to form a shield. Usually a band of six rows of wide rough scales across the middle of the back. Head and body length of 6.6 cm.

Biology

Most common 'garden skink' and can often be seen in suburban gardens in large numbers. Secretive in nature, this skink rarely ventures far from cover including vegetation, damp soil and thick leaf litter. Live bearing species, can produce up to eight young depending on the size of the female. Females store sperm in oviducts over winter after mating in autumn. Fertilisation occurs in spring and young are born the following summer.

Distribution

Tasmania and southern Victoria

Habitat

Dry sclerophyll forests, dense forest and alpine heath. Hides in and under dense vegetation, leaf litter, logs and rocks.

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