Striped Skink

The Striped Skink is medium-sized (110mm to 113mm) and has a window in each lower eyelid. The subocular is narrowed below and usually reaches the upper lip.  The ear openings are lobed.

There are spiny scales on the soles of the feet and a keel on the lamellae beneath the toes.

The dorsal scales have three  keels, and are in 32 to 43 rows at midbody.

Coloration differs between the subsepecies with the body being mainly dark brown with two lighter stripes on the upper flanks.

Distribution

They occur from East  Africa down to the former Transkei and the North-eastern Cape extending along the Orange River to the Richtersveld.

Habitat

There habitat requirements are varied and they occur from mangrove swamps to arid savanna.  Thye are common around towns and tame easily.

Habits

They are active climbers and forage on rock outcrops, houses and trees.

Food

They feed on smallm insects such as beetles, moths, etc., and small invertebrates.

Reproduction

The Soutrhern populations give birth to a single litter of 3 to 9 babies in summer.  The babies measure 63mm to 76mm at birth.  In the Northern populations reproduction may occur throughout the year.

Growth is relatively fast and they reach maturity at 15 t 18 months.