White's skink

White's skink
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Egernia
Species: E. whitii
Binomial name
Egernia whitii
(Lacépède, 1804)
Synonyms

Lygosoma moniligera Duméril & Bibron, 1839
Scincus whitii Lacépède, 1804
Liopholis whitii (Lacépède, 1804)

White's skink (Egernia whitii) is a species of skink in the Scincidae family. It is found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania and many Bass Strait islands. It is slow-growing, to a maximum length of about 90 mm, and may take four years to reach maturity. It gives birth to live young. It is highly variable and may be a complex of closely related species.[1][2]

White's skinks prefer dry habitats, usually on steep hills. They live in families of up to seven in many-chambered tunnels with two exits to provide alternate escape routes. The main entrance usually faces west.

References

  1. Wildlife of Tasmania – White’s Skink
  2. Cogger, H.G. (1979). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed: Sydney. ISBN 0-589-50108-9


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