Eastern Skink

Habitat:

This is a medium size lizard with a total length smaller than 30 cm. The skin is bright and smooth. It is active during the day and can be found in sand dunes. They have the ability to “swim” very fast in the sand, which is the reason why they are not easy to see. The snout is shaped like a duck bill to dig easier in the sand. Their legs and tail are short. They eat insects and other small invertebrates. This is the only lizard in Qatar that does not lay eggs. Females are viviparous and give birth to young but fully developed lizards. Eggs can not be safely incubated in the hot and dry sand of the dunes where eggs desiccate and so they benefit from this live birth

World Distribution:

This species is widely distributed in the Arabian Peninsula, western Iran, east of the Asir Mountains and Qatar

Conservation status:

It is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List

Scientific publications:

We have found 18 scientific publications about the species in international databases. Most studies are general, about parasites and physiology; others deal with the taxonomy, reproduction and behaviour of these lizards. No information about the ecology of the species exists for Qatar

Similar species:

Scincus scincus

Description:

Anderson, 1871