Fence Skink
Scientific name: Cryptoblepharus virgatus
Alternative name/s:
Wall Skink
Wall Skink
Click to enlarge image
far southern and eastern Australia
Image: S Swanson
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Cryptoblepharus
- Species
- virgatus
- Family
- Scincidae
- Suborder
- Lacertilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Subclass
- Lepidosauria
- Class
- Reptilia
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 8 cm
Introduction
The Fence Skink is common in Sydney and is most often seen on vertical surfaces such as walls, fences and tree trunks.
Identification
The Fence Skink has a distinct white stripe along its body from the eye area to the base of its tail, and its flat shape enables it to squeeze into small cracks and crevices.
Habitat
The Fence Skink lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands, grasslands. This skink is quite active and appears to be more common in urban areas than surrounding bushland. However, because of its small size, it may often go undetected in the wild.
Distribution
The Fence Skink is found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
The Fence Skink is an active hunter and feeds on invertebrates such as small insects.
