One environment skinks can occupy is the desert.
The lizard is a member of a large family of lizards with a distinctive cylindrical body and short stubby legs. Skinks can be found widely distributed throughout the world, in tropical to temperate zones, and are incredibly diverse. Their family, Scincidae, contains more than a thousand species, some of which are considered rare and endangered, while others are quite abundant and well-known in the regions they inhabit. Determinate creatures will readily adapt to fill any available ecological niche, including human-created niches such as stone walls and gardens.
Although the blue-tailed lizard’s tail is actually blue, its body is black with yellow stripes.
Many skinks move more like snakes than lizards, due to their sinuous bodies and short legs. They are also distinguished from lizards by their short necks. Some species of geckos actually slither like snakes, as they have vestigial or even non-existent legs. The creatures are small to medium in size and vary widely in coloration. Some skinks have relatively sober colors, blending in well with the background, while others have bright spots or stripes. Some species actually change color during the breeding season, to alert other lizards to their availability.
Various species of geckos are quite distinctive in that their coloration includes the color blue. Five lined up geckos, for example, have bright blue tails that are meant to distract potential predators from their bodies, while blue-tongued geckos have a blue to purple tongue. Some people colloquially call these species “blue skinks”, referring to their coloration.
Skinks have some unique tricks up their sleeves. They can drop their tails when threatened, regenerating new ones later. This is probably why some lizards have brightly colored tails, so they can attract predators to grab them from the wrong side. Some species of geckos also generate live young, hatched from eggs retained in the mother’s body. The creatures are also extremely adaptable, making them comfortable in a variety of environments, from deserts to forests.
As a general rule, lizards are harmless. In fact, they are very useful to have in the garden because many species are carnivorous, feeding on insects, slugs, and other small garden pests. Some people also keep lizards as pets and apparently they can be quite friendly and affectionate companion animals. Like most other reptiles, lizards stay awake and active during the day because they cool off at night and like to bask in warm places or bask on rocks that have been warmed by ambient temperatures all day.