The Tree-Crevice Skink (Egernia striolata) is a reptile in the Scincidae family of skink lizards. It is a squamate. It is also called the Tree Skink.
The Tree-Crevice Skink has a thick, flattened body with small eyes. It has 26-36 rows of scales. It is dark-black to grey-brown with a pale stripe of scales down its body from its head to its tail. Its underbelly is pale or cream-coloured. It eyes have vertical, narrow pupils.
I
t grows to about 10 centimetres (4 inches) long.
It is endemic to Australia, specifically in inland, dry regions. It does not live near the coast. It lives in rock crevices (cracks), wooden fence poles, or hollow logs.
It is arboreal, because it prefers to live in trees – and is rarely on the ground (terrestrial).
It is omnivorous. It feeds on insects, such as grasshoppers, ants, and cockroaches, as well as some plants. It is eaten by snakes, birds, and mammals. It is diurnal, active during the day.
The Tree-Crevice Skink lives in small groups of 2-10 individuals. It mates for life with one partner. This is called monogamous.
The female is viviparous, giving birth to live young. She has 2-6 live offspring. The offspring stay with their parents until they are fully mature, which takes about 5 years.
Its life span is about 10 years.
Location of photographs: Paris Zoo, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM