Cunningham's Skink

Images ©:

Cunningham's Skink - Peter Robertson | Cunningham's Skink - Peter Robertson

Egernia cunninghami

Colour varies from almost totally black with a few white spots, to grey with black bands to a rusty red colour. Snout to vent length up to 250 mm. Tail length up to 100 mm.

Details
Type
Reptile
Group
Animals
Lizard
Other Common Names
Cunningham's Rock Skink
Biology

Viviparous (live bearing). Produces 6 or more live young. Prefers to live communally. Active by day. Life span up to 20 years.
Distinctive Markings

Prominent spiny keel on each back scale, especially on the tail.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Scincidae
Genus
Egernia
Species
cunninghami
Stretches from south-eastern Queensland, through New South Wales and into Victoria, mainly on the slopes of the Dividing Range. An isolated population exists in the Mt Lofty Ranges of South Australia.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Cunningham's Skinks are normally found in rock crevices. Their spiny scales prevent predators removing them.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Omnivore. Fruits and seeds, invertebrates and small vertebrates.
Habitat

Crevices in rock formations or in hollow logs.
Native Status
Native to Australia