![]() In some genera, however, such as Tiliqua and Corucia, the young developing in the reproductive tract derive their nourishment from a mammal-like placenta attached to the female – unambiguous examples of viviparous matrotrophy. Many species are ovoviviparous, the young (skinklets) developing lecithotrophically in eggs that hatch inside the mother's reproductive tract, and emerging as live births. Both species of the Genus Tristiidon are mainly frugivorous, but occasionally eat moss and insects.Īlthough most species of skinks are oviparous, laying eggs in clutches, some 45% of skink species are viviparous in one sense or another. Some species, particularly those favored as home pets, are omnivorous and have more varied diets and can be maintained on a regimen of roughly 60% vegetables/leaves/fruit and 40% meat (insects and rodents). Various species also eat earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, snails, slugs, isopods ( woodlice etc), moths, small lizards (including geckos), and small rodents. Typical prey include flies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Skinks are generally carnivorous and in particular insectivorous. When they encounter their prey, they chase it down until they corner it or manage to land a bite and then swallow it whole. They also use their tongues to sniff the air and track their prey. Many spend their time underground where they are mostly safe from predators, sometimes even digging out tunnels for easy navigation. ![]() Skink genera known from fossils include the following: Ī trait apparent in many species of skink is digging and burrowing. Definitive skink fossils appear later, during the Miocene period. Skink-like lizards first appear in the fossil record about 140 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous, mostly in the form of jawbones that appear very skink-like. The word "skink", which entered the English language around 1580–90, comes from classical Greek skinkos and Latin scincus, names that referred to various specific lizards. Skinks in the genus Prasinohaema have green blood because of a buildup of the waste product biliverdin. Skinks can often hide easily in their habitat because of their protective colouring (camouflage). Most skinks, though, are medium-sized, with snout-to-vent lengths around 12 cm ( 4 + 1⁄ 2 in), although some grow larger the Solomon Islands skink ( Corucia zebrata) is the largest known extant species and may attain a snout-to-vent length of some 35 cm (14 in). Some species of skinks are quite small Scincella lateralis typically ranges from 7.5 to 14.5 cm (3 to 5 + 3⁄ 4 in), more than half of which is the tail. Species with stumpy tails have no special regenerative abilities. A lost tail can grow back within around three to four months. Such species generally can regenerate the lost part of a tail, though imperfectly. Most species of skinks have long, tapering tails they can shed if predators grab onto them. The Scincidae ecological niche index (SENI) is a ratio based on anterior foot length at the junction of the ulna/radius-carpal bones to the longest digit divided by the snout-to-vent length. A biological ratio can determine the ecological niche of a given skink species. As a general rule, the longer the digits, the more arboreal the species is likely to be. In such species, their locomotion resembles that of snakes more than that of lizards with well-developed limbs. Other genera, such as Neoseps, have reduced limbs and fewer than five toes ( digits) on each foot. Skinks' skulls are covered by substantial bony scales, usually matching up in shape and size, while overlapping. These lizards also have legs that are relatively small proportional to their body size. ![]() This is not true for all skinks, however, as some species such as the red-eyed crocodile skink have a head that is very distinguished from the body. Several genera (e.g., Typhlosaurus) have no limbs at all. Skinks look like lizards of the family Lacertidae (sometimes called true lizards), but most species of skinks have no pronounced neck and relatively small legs.
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