Fence Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher Click to enlarge image
Fence Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher. Image: Marsden Allan
© CC BY-NC 4.0

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Cryptoblepharus
    Species
    pulcher
    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.


What do Fence Skinks look like?

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.


Fence Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher
Fence Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher. Image: kalimata
© CC BY-NC 4.0

Where do Fence Skinks live?

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

What do Fence Skinks eat?

Feeding and diet

The Fence Skink is an active hunter and feeds on invertebrates such as small insects.


Fence Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher
Fence Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher. Image: kalimata
© CC BY-NC 4.0