skink

The word skink, which entered the English language around 1580–1590, comes from classical Greek {{lang|grc-latn|skinkos}} and Latin {{lang|la|scincus}}, names that referred to various specific lizards.{{Cite web |title=the definition of skink |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/skink |access-date=2019-05-06 |website=www.dictionary.com |language=en}}

Skinks look like lizards of the family Lacertidae (sometimes called true lizards), but most species of skinks have no pronounced neck and relatively small legs. Several genera (e.g., Typhlosaurus) have no limbs at all. This is not true for all skinks, however, as some species such as the red-eyed crocodile skink have a head that is very distinguished from the body. These lizards also have legs that are relatively small proportional to their body size.

Skinks' skulls are covered by substantial bony scales, usually matching up in shape and size, while overlapping.{{Cite book|title=Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 6 Reptiles|last=Grzimek|first=Bernhard|publisher=Van nostrand reinhold company|year=1975|location=New York, NY|pages=242}} Other genera, such as Neoseps, have reduced limbs and fewer than five toes (digits) on each foot. In such species, their locomotion resembles that of snakes more than that of lizards with well-developed limbs. As a general rule, the longer the digits, the more arboreal the species is likely to be. A biological ratio can determine the ecological niche of a given skink species. The Scincidae ecological niche index (SENI) is a ratio based on anterior foot length at the junction of the ulna/radius-carpal bones to the longest digit divided by the snout-to-vent length.Schnirel, Brian (2004). "SENI biometric analysis on the extinct Scincidae species: Macroscincus coctei". Polyphemos, Volume 1, Issue 2, May, Florence, South Carolina. pp. 12–22.

Most species of skinks have long, tapering tails they can shed if predators grab onto them. Such species generally can regenerate the lost part of a tail, though imperfectly. A lost tail can grow back within around three to four months.{{Cite web|url=https://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/natural-sciences/10-creatures-that-conveniently-grow-back-body-parts/|title=10 Creatures That Conveniently Grow Back Body Parts|website=TreeHugger|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}} Species with stumpy tails have no special regenerative abilities.

Some species of skinks are quite small; Scincella lateralis typically ranges from {{convert|7.5|to|14.5|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}}, more than half of which is the tail.{{Cite web|url=https://srelherp.uga.edu/lizards/scilat.htm|title=Species Profile: Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis) {{!}} SREL Herpetology|website=srelherp.uga.edu|access-date=2019-05-06}} Most skinks, though, are medium-sized, with snout-to-vent lengths around {{convert|12|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}}, although some grow larger; the Solomon Islands skink (Corucia zebrata) is the largest known extant species and may attain a snout-to-vent length of some {{convert|35|cm|abbr=on}}.

Skinks can often hide easily in their habitat because of their protective colouring (camouflage).{{Cite web|url=http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/skink_facts/280/|title=Skink Facts|website=www.softschools.com|access-date=2019-05-06}}

Skinks in the genus Prasinohaema have green blood because of a buildup of the waste product biliverdin.{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/some-lizards-have-green-blood-that-should-kill-them-and-scientists-cant-work-out-why-96751|title=Some lizards have green blood that should kill them – and scientists can't work out why|last=Malhotra|first=Anita|website=The Conversation|language=en|access-date=2019-05-06}}

The oldest known skink is Electroscincus zedi described from the mid-Cretaceous (late Albian to early Cenomanian) Burmese amber from Myanmar, dating to around {{Ma|100}}. Based on the presence of osteoderms, Electroscincus appears to belong to the Scincidae crown group, indicating that some divergence among the extant skink subfamilies must have already occurred by 100 million years ago.{{Cite journal|last1=Daza |first1=J. D. |last2=Stanley |first2=E. L. |last3=Heinicke |first3=M. P. |last4=Leah |first4=C. |last5=Doucet |first5=D. S. |last6=Fenner |first6=K. L. |last7=Arias |first7=J. S. |last8=Smith |first8=R. D. A. |last9=Peretti |first9=A. M. |last10=Aung |first10=N. N. |last11=Bauer |first11=A. M. |title=Compound osteoderms preserved in amber reveal the oldest known skink |year=2024 |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=14 |at=15662 |doi=10.1038/s41598-024-66451-w |doi-access=free |pmc=11231356 }} Other definitive skink fossils are known from the Miocene.[http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/skinks-skinks-skinks/ Scientific American — Skinks, Skinks, Skinks]
Fossils indicate skinks as a whole are a fairly old group of lizards, the oldest specimens attributed to the group dating to the Lower Cretaceous. The vast majority of early fossil representatives of the group consists of jaw fragments alone. These are certainly from skink-like lizards (from the major lizard group termed Scincomorpha), but they might not all be from skinks proper, and some have been suggested to actually represent other groups (like the armadillo lizards or cordylids, a scincomorph group that also has a possible Cretaceous fossil record). Definite fossil members of modern groups – like blue-tongued skinks – are present in the Miocene.{{cite book|last=Estes|first=Richard|date=1983|title=Sauria Terrestria, Amphisbaenia. Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie, Part 10A.|trans-title=Sauria Terrestria, Amphisbaenia. Handbook of Paleoherpetology, Part 10A.|url=https://pfeil-verlag.de/en/?product=handbuch-der-palaeoherpetologie-encyclopedia-of-paleoherpetology-part-10a-sauria-terrestria-amphisbaenia|language=de|location=Stuttgart and New York|publisher=Gustav Fischer Verlag|isbn=978-3-89937-026-3}}

Skink genera known from fossils include the following:

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{{linked genus list

| †Aethesia |

| †Aocnodromeus |

| †Axonoscincus |

| †Ayalasaurus |

| †Berruva |

| Egernia |

| †Electroscincus |

| †Gekkomimus |

| Lygosoma |

| †Orthoscincus |

| †Orthrioscincus |

| Parotosaurus |

| †Penemabuya |

| †Proegernia |

| †Sauriscus |

| Sphenomorphus |

| Tiliqua |

}}

{{div col end}}

A trait apparent in many species of skink is digging and burrowing. Many spend their time underground where they are mostly safe from predators, sometimes even digging out tunnels for easy navigation. They also use their tongues to sniff the air and track their prey. When they encounter their prey, they chase it down until they corner it or manage to land a bite and then swallow it whole. Despite being voracious hunters at times, all species pose no threat to humans and will generally avoid interaction in the wild. Being neither poisonous nor venomous, their bites are also mild and minor.

Skinks are generally carnivorous and in particular insectivorous. Typical prey include flies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Various species also eat earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, snails, slugs, isopods (woodlice etc), moths, small lizards (including geckos), and small rodents. Some species, particularly those favored as home pets, are omnivorous and have more varied diets and can be maintained on a regimen of roughly 60% vegetables/leaves/fruit and 40% meat (insects and rodents).{{cite web|url=http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/lizardsaspets/a/bluetongues.htm |title=Keeping Blue Tongued Skinks as Pets |access-date=2006-08-27 |author=McLeod, Lianne}} Species of the genus Tristiidon are mainly frugivorous, but occasionally eat moss and insects.

File:Trachylepis maculilabris mating.jpg mating]]

Although most species of skinks are oviparous, laying eggs in clutches, some 45% of skink species are viviparous in one sense or another. Many species are ovoviviparous, the young (skinklets) developing lecithotrophically in eggs that hatch inside the mother's reproductive tract, and emerging as live births.

In some genera, however, such as Tiliqua and Corucia, the young developing in the reproductive tract derive their nourishment from a mammal-like placenta attached to the female – unambiguous examples of viviparous matrotrophy.{{cite book|author1=Justin L. Rheubert|author2=Dustin S. Siegel|author3=Stanley E. Trauth|title=Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Lizards and Tuatara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4zNBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA548|date=19 December 2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4665-7987-3|pages=548–}} Furthermore, an example recently described in Trachylepis ivensi is the most extreme to date: a purely reptilian placenta directly comparable in structure and function, to a eutherian placenta.{{cite journal | last1 = Blackburn | first1 = D. G. | last2 = Flemming | first2 = A. F. | year = 2011 | title = Invasive implantation and intimate placental associations in a placentotrophic African lizard, Trachylepis ivensi (Scincidae) | journal = Journal of Morphology | volume = 273| issue = 2| pages = 137–59| doi = 10.1002/jmor.11011 | pmid=21956253| s2cid = 5191828 }}

Clearly, such vivipary repeatedly has developed independently in the evolutionary history of the Scincidae and the different examples are not ancestral to the others. In particular, placental development of whatever degree in lizards is phylogenetically analogous, rather than homologous, to functionally similar processes in mammals.

Skinks typically seek out environments protected from the elements, such as thick foliage, underneath man-made structures, and ground-level buildings such as garages and first-floor apartments. When two or more skinks are seen in a small area, it is typical to find a nest nearby. Skinks are considered to be territorial and often are seen standing in front of or "guarding" their nest area. If a nest is nearby, one can expect to see 10-30 lizards within the period of a month. In parts of the southern United States, nests are commonly found in houses and apartments, especially along the coast. The nest is where the skink lays its small white eggs, up to 4-8 at a time.{{Cite web|url=https://onekindplanet.org/animal/skink-common-garden/|title=Amazing Facts about the Common Garden Skink {{!}} OneKindPlanet Animals|website=OneKindPlanet|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-05-06}}

File:Cape Skink Flowers.jpg native to South Africa]]

Skinks are very specific in their habitat as some can depend on vegetation while others may depend on land and the soil.{{Cite journal|last=Cabrelli|first=Abigail|date=August 2017|title=Assessing the vulnerability of Australian skinks to climate change.|journal=Climate Change|volume=130|issue=2|pages=223–233|doi=10.1007/s10584-015-1358-6|s2cid=153428168|via=Energy & Power Source}} As a family, skinks are cosmopolitan; species occur in a variety of habitats worldwide, apart from boreal and polar regions. Various species occur in ecosystems ranging from deserts and mountains to grasslands.

File:5LinedSkink.jpg basking on a log in Forest Park.]]

Many species are good burrowers. More species are terrestrial or fossorial (burrowing) than arboreal (tree-climbing) or aquatic. Some are "sand swimmers", especially the desert species, such as the mole skink or sand skink in Florida. Some use a very similar action in moving through grass tussocks. Most skinks are diurnal (day-active) and typically bask on rocks or logs during the day.

Raccoons, foxes, possums, snakes, coatis, weasels, crows, cats, dogs, herons, hawks, lizards, and other predators of small land vertebrates also prey on various skinks. This can be troublesome, given the long gestation period for some skinks, making them an easy target to predators such as the mongoose, which often threaten the species to at least near extinction, such as the Anguilla Bank skink. Invasive rodents are a major threat to skinks that have been overlooked, especially tropical skinks.{{Cite journal|last=Thibault|first=Martin|date=2017|title=Invasive rodents, an overlooked threat for skinks in a tropical island hotspot of biodiversity.|journal=New Zealand Journal of Ecology|volume=41|pages=1–10|doi=10.20417/nzjecol.41.9|doi-access=free}}

Skinks are also hunted for food by indigenous peoples in New Guinea, including by the Kalam people in the highlands of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.Bulmer, RNH (1975). [http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Volume_84_1975/Volume_84%2C_No._3/Kalam_classification_of_reptiles_and_fishes%2C_by_R._N._H._Bulmer%2C_J._I._Menzies_and_F._Parker%2C_p_267-308/p1 Kalam Classification Of Reptiles And Fishes]. Journal of the Polynesian Society 84(3): 267–308.

Despite making up 15% of reptiles, skinks have a relatively conserved chromosome number, between 11 and 16 pairs.{{Cite journal |last=Giovannotti |first=M. |last2=Caputo |first2=V. |last3=O'Brien |first3=P. C. M. |last4=Lovell |first4=F. L. |last5=Trifonov |first5=V. |last6=Cerioni |first6=P. Nisi |last7=Olmo |first7=E. |last8=Ferguson-Smith |first8=M. A. |last9=Rens |first9=W. |date=2009 |title=Skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) have highly conserved karyotypes as revealed by chromosome painting |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20215726/ |journal=Cytogenetic and Genome Research |volume=127 |issue=2-4 |pages=224–231 |doi=10.1159/000295002 |issn=1424-859X |pmid=20215726}} Skink genomes are typically about 1.5 Gb, approximately one-half the size of the human genome. The Christmas Island blue-tailed skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) was sequenced in 2022, representing the first skink reference genome.{{Cite journal |last=Dodge |first=Tristram O. |last2=Farquharson |first2=Katherine A. |last3=Ford |first3=Claire |last4=Cavanagh |first4=Lisa |last5=Schubert |first5=Kristen |last6=Schumer |first6=Molly |last7=Belov |first7=Katherine |last8=Hogg |first8=Carolyn J. |date=2023 |title=Genomes of two Extinct‐in‐the‐Wild reptiles from Christmas Island reveal distinct evolutionary histories and conservation insights |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1755-0998.13780 |journal=Molecular Ecology Resources |language=en |pages=1755–0998.13780 |doi=10.1111/1755-0998.13780 |issn=1755-098X|doi-access=free }}

Skinks were long thought to have both genetic sex determination (GSD) and temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Despite having sex chromosomes that are not distinguishable with a microscope, all major skink lineages share an old XY system that is over 80 million years old.{{Cite journal |last=Kostmann |first=Alexander |last2=Kratochvíl |first2=Lukáš |last3=Rovatsos |first3=Michail |date=2021-01-27 |title=Poorly differentiated XX/XY sex chromosomes are widely shared across skink radiation |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33468012/ |journal=Proceedings. Biological Sciences |volume=288 |issue=1943 |pages=20202139 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2020.2139 |issn=1471-2954 |pmc=7893288 |pmid=33468012}} These X and Y specific regions are highly divergent and contain multiple chromosomal rearrangements and repetitive sequences.

Many genera, Mabuya for example, are still insufficiently studied, and their systematics are at times controversial, see for example the taxonomy of the western skink, Plestiodon skiltonianus. Mabuya in particular, is being split, many species being allocated to new genera such as Trachylepis, Chioninia, and Eutropis.

Subfamily Acontinae (limbless skinks; 30 species in 2 genera){{BioRef|reptileDB| taxon=Acontinae|access-date=10 October 2019}}

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• Acontias (25 species)
• Typhlosaurus (5 species)

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Subfamily Egerniinae (social skinks; 63 species in 9 genera){{BioRef|reptileDB| taxon=Egerniinae|access-date=10 October 2019}}

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• Bellatorias (3 species)
• Corucia (1 species)
• Cyclodomorphus (9 species)
• Egernia (17 species)
• Liopholis (12 species)
• Lissolepis (2 species)
• Tiliqua (7 species)
• Tribolonotus (10 species)

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Subfamily Eugongylinae (eugongylid skinks; 455 species in 50 genera){{BioRef|reptileDB| taxon=Eugongylinae|access-date=10 September 2020}}

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• Ablepharus (18 species)
• Acritoscincus (3 species)
• Alpinoscincus (2 species)
• Anepischetosia (1 species)
• Austroablepharus (3 species)
• Caesoris (1 species)
• Caledoniscincus (14 species)
• Carinascincus (8 species)
• Carlia (46 species)
• Celatiscincus (2 species)
• Cophoscincopus (4 species)
• Cryptoblepharus (53 species)
• Emoia (78 species)
• Epibator (3 species)
• Eroticoscincus (1 species)
• Eugongylus (5 species)
• Geomyersia (2 species)
• Geoscincus (1 species)
• Graciliscincus (1 species)
• Harrisoniascincus (1 species)
• Kanakysaurus (2 species)
• Kuniesaurus (1 species)
• Lacertaspis (5 species)
• Lacertoides (1 species)
• Lampropholis (14 species)
• Leiolopisma (4 species)
• Leptosiaphos (18 species)
• Liburnascincus (4 species)
• Lioscincus (2 species)
• Lobulia (8 species)
• Lygisaurus (14 species)
• Marmorosphax (5 species)
• Menetia (5 species)
• Morethia (8 species)
• Nannoscincus (12 species)
• Nubeoscincus (2 species)
• Oligosoma (53 species)
• Panaspis (21 species)
• Phaeoscincus (2 species)
• Phasmasaurus (2 species)
• Phoboscincus (2 species)
• Proablepharus (2 species)
• Pseudemoia (6 species)
• Pygmaeascincus (3 species)
• Saproscincus (12 species)
• Sigaloseps (6 species)
• Simiscincus (1 species)
• Tachygia (1 species)
• Techmarscincus (1 species)
• Tropidoscincus (3 species)

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Subfamily Lygosominae (lygosomid skinks; 56 species in 6 genera){{BioRef|reptileDB| taxon=Lygosominae|access-date=10 October 2019}}

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• Haackgreerius (1 species)
• Lamprolepis (3 species)
• Lygosoma (16 species)
• Mochlus (18 species)
• Riopa (9 species)
• Subdoluseps (8 species)

{{Div col end}}

Subfamily Mabuyinae (mabuyid skinks; 226 species in 25 genera){{BioRef|reptileDB| taxon=Mabuyinae|access-date=10 September 2020}}

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• Alinea (2 species)
• Aspronema (2 species)
• Brasiliscincus (3 species)
• Capitellum (3 species)
• Chioninia (7 species)
• Copeoglossum (5 species)
• Dasia (10 species)
• Eumecia (2 species)
• Eutropis (48 species)
• Exila (1 species)
• Heremites (3 species)
• Lubuya (1 species)
• Mabuya (9 species)
• Manciola (1 species)
• Maracaiba (2 species)
• Marisora (13 species)
• Notomabuya (1 species)
• Otosaurus (1 species)
• Panopa (2 species)
• Psychosaura (2 species)
• Spondylurus (17 species)
• Toenayar (1 species)
• Trachylepis (87 species)
• Varzea (2 species)
• Vietnascincus (1 species)

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Subfamily Sphenomorphinae (sphenomorphid skinks; 591 species in 41 genera){{BioRef|reptileDB| taxon=Sphenomorphinae|access-date=10 October 2019}}

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• Anomalopus (4 species)
• Calorodius (1 species)
• Calyptotis (4 species)
• Coeranoscincus (2 species)
• Coggeria (1 species)
• Concinnia (7 species)
• Ctenotus (103 species)
• Eremiascincus (15 species)
• Eulamprus (5 species)
• Fojia (1 species)
• Glaphyromorphus (11 species)
• Gnypetoscincus (1 species)
• Hemiergis (7 species)
• Insulasaurus (4 species)
• Isopachys (4 species)
• Kaestlea (5 species)
• Lankascincus (10 species)
• Larutia (9 species)
• Leptoseps (2 species)
• Lerista (97 species)
• Lipinia (28 species)
• Nangura (1 species)
• Notoscincus (2 species)
• Ophioscincus (3 species)
• Ornithuroscincus (9 species)
• Orosaura (1 species)
• Palaia (1 species)
• Papuascincus (4 species)
• Parvoscincus (24 species)
• Pinoyscincus (5 species)
• Praeteropus (4 species)
• Prasinohaema (5 species)
• Protoblepharus (3 species)
• Ristella (4 species)
• Saiphos (1 species)
• Scincella (38 species)
• Sepsiscus (1 species)
• Silvascincus (2 species)
• Sphenomorphus (113 species)
• Tropidophorus (29 species)
• Tumbunascincus (1 species)
• Tytthoscincus (23 species)

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Subfamily Scincinae (typical skinks; 294 species in 35 genera){{BioRef|reptileDB| taxon=Scincinae|access-date=10 October 2019}}

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• Amphiglossus (2 species)
• Ateuchosaurus (2 species)
• Barkudia (2 species)
• Brachymeles (42 species)
• Brachyseps (8 species)
• Chalcides (32 species)
• Chalcidoseps (1 species)
• Eumeces (6 species)
• Eurylepis (2 species)
• Feylinia (6 species)
• Flexiseps (15 species)
• Gongylomorphus (3 species)
• Grandidierina (4 species)
• Hakaria (1 species)
• Janetaescincus (2 species)
• Jarujinia (1 species)
• Madascincus (12 species)
• Melanoseps (8 species)
• Mesoscincus (3 species)
• Nessia (9 species)
• Ophiomorus (12 species)
• Pamelaescincus (1 species)
• Paracontias (14 species)
• Plestiodon (50 species)
• Proscelotes (3 species)
• Pseudoacontias (4 species)
• Pygomeles (3 species)
• Scelotes (22 species)
• Scincopus (1 species)
• Scincus (5 species)
• Scolecoseps (4 species)
• Sepsina (5 species)
• Sepsophis (1 species)
• Typhlacontias (7 species)
• Voeltzkowia (3 species)

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Female Skink with Eggs.JPG|Female skink with eggs

Indian Skink.jpg|Indian skink

Skink found in Sri Lanka.jpg|Skink found in Sri Lanka

Skink in Aussie.jpg|Eastern blue-tongue lizard in Australia

Eastern blue-tongued lizard - Tiliqua scincoides scincoides - 7.jpg|Eastern blue-tongued lizard

Lizard Albany.jpg|King's skink – Albany, Western Australia

• Panaspis ericae

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=37946 |title=Scincidae Gray 1825 |work=Paleobiology Database |publisher=Fossilworks |access-date=17 December 2021}}

}}

• De Vosjoli, Philippe (1993) Prehensile-Tailed Skinks. Advanced Vivarium Systems. {{ISBN|1-882770-24-2}}
• Hedges, S. Blair and Caitlin E. Conn. 2012. A new skink fauna from Caribbean islands (Squamata, Mabuyidae, Mabuyinae). Zootaxa 3288.

{{Wikispecies|Scincidae}}

{{Commons category|Scincidae}}

• [http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/search.php?taxon=Scincidae&submit=Search Scincidae] at [http://www.reptile-database.org/ The Reptile Database]
• [http://www.theinformationarchives.com/skinks/ Skink Gallery and Information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150322115139/http://www.kingsnake.com/oz/lizards/skinks/skinks.htm Skinks of Australia], KingSnake.com (Wayback Machine)

{{Squamata families}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q272206}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray

Category:Extant Cenomanian first appearances