Found only in Australia, the great desert skink lizard lives in the sandy plains of the center of the continent.
Skinks are a type of lizard that belongs to the Scincidae family. Scincidae is the largest family of lizards and there are over 600 identified types of skink lizards. The most common are the blue-tongued lizard, five-lined lizard, large desert lizard, emerald lizard, and snake-eyed lizard. Skinks are found throughout the world and several varieties are kept as pets due to their docile nature.
Although the blue-tailed lizard’s tail is actually blue, its body is black with yellow stripes.
Blue-tongued skink lizards are native to Australia and are named for their large blue tongues. This type of lizard has a large head and short legs and can grow to about 50 centimeters in length. The blue-tongued lizard is omnivorous, feeding mainly on berries and insects it finds on the ground. When threatened, the blue-tongued lizard sticks out its tongue in an effort to ward off predators.
The five-lined skink lizard is native to the southeastern states of the United States and is named for the five stripes that run down its back. Much shorter than the blue-tongued lizard, the five-lined lizard only grows to 10 inches long and usually has a reddish-orange head. The body is narrow and brown, and younger specimens also sport a bright blue tail. The five-lined lizard usually lives under fallen trees and feeds on insects and spiders.
The large desert skink lizard is only found in Australia and as of 2010 is on Australia’s endangered species list. A large lizard that usually grows to more than 50 centimeters in length, the large desert lizard has a reddish-brown back and a yellow belly. This lizard lives in the sandy plains of central Australia and hides in groups in the dunes in search of shelter. Their diet generally includes termites found in the sand, and cockroaches, ants, and spiders.
The emerald tree skink lizard is native to Taiwan, the Philippines, and eastern Indonesia and is named for its bright green color. Although named after the most common type of emerald gecko, many of this variety are actually a dull green or even brownish gray. The emerald crayfish lives primarily in the populous palm trees of its habitat, feeding on flowers and insects.
The snake-eyed skink lizard is native to Asia and gets its name from its lack of eyelids, which makes it similar to a snake. The body is brown or coppery with green reflections and contains a dark band on the sides. The snake-eyed lizard lives in burrows around the mountainous forests of Asia and feeds on insects.