Most of the time I only get to see skinks from a distance. Get too close and they scurry off into the bushes. This female skink happened to be out in the wide open. A golden opportunity! After chasing her around, sometimes on my hands and knees, much to the amusement of spectators, I was able to catch her. Since I grabbed her with my right hand I had to photograph with my left -- not an ideal situation. Time to improvise! Using the steps to the back deck of our center as a prop to lean against, I put the camera down on the deck and positioned my captive in front of the lens -- again, much to the amusement of spectators.
First, a picture of the supralabials (scales above the mouth)
First, a picture of the supralabials (scales above the mouth)
OK, eight of those.
Next, a shot of the postmentals (chin scales)
Two of those.
One more shot, this time of the subcaudals
...scales in the median row appear wider. Hope it doesn't matter that she has a regenerated tail!
Conclusion: Broadhead skink, Plestidon laticeps or, if you have an older text, Eumeces laticeps.
By the time I let her go, she was quite calm. When I set her down she did not immediately run away, but instead sat and pondered me for a while. Hopefully, she was not thinking evil thoughts about me ;)
Conclusion: Broadhead skink, Plestidon laticeps or, if you have an older text, Eumeces laticeps.
By the time I let her go, she was quite calm. When I set her down she did not immediately run away, but instead sat and pondered me for a while. Hopefully, she was not thinking evil thoughts about me ;)
4 comments:
Lovely skink! As a former skink wrangler, I understand the challenge completely. The pictures turned out very well.
Nice - what a great encounter, and great photos, too. That the tail is regenerated is obvious once you pointed it out, but I would have missed that if you hadn't. Thanks!
Is that sand or parasites on her scales?
I love lizards. So cute.
hugh,
Thanks, I thought you might like the skink.
wren,
The tail is obvious is you see the whole skink. It was fun to chase and catch the skink -- the 50 year old knees complained a little though ;)
anonymous,
I believe it's sand. She had a clutch of eggs in some sand under a pile of mulch.
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