Gidgee Skink
Scientific Name: Egernia stokesii
Size: Snout Vent Length 190 mm
What does it look like?
The Gidgee Skink is a large, robust skink with sharply keeled scales, short tail and short legs. Yellowish-brown to reddish-brown above, with numerous dark and light flecks and blotches that create obscure transverse pattern, which is most conspicuous on flattened, spiny tail. Underparts white to yellowish.
Where is it found?
Occurs in arid to semi-arid Australia, from south-western Qld and far north-western NSW, through eastern and northern SA and southern NT, to eastern and western WA (absent from central WA), and on adjacent islands off central western WA coast.
What are its habitats & habits?
The Gidgee Skink is found among rocky outcrops in arid to semi-arid, open woodland, shrubland and grassland, where it is saxicolous and semi-arboreal. Diurnal, sheltering in crevices and under boulders where it basks. Feeds mainly on fruits and soft leaves, but also forages for small insects and other vertebrates, including cockroaches, grasshoppers, crickets and moths, supplemented in adults with some fruits and vegetation. Viviparous, giving birth to up to 8 (average 5) live young.
Interesting facts
Alternate Names: Stokes’ Skink, Spiny-Tailed Skink
This species features in my book A Naturalist’s Guide to the Reptiles of Australia
