Skinks (Family Scincidae)

Skinks are the most diverse group of lizards. They make up Family
Scincidae which shares the superfamily Scincomorpha with several

other lizard families, including Lacertidae (the "true" or wall lizards).

Scincidae is the largest of the lizard families with about 1200 species.

Skinks look roughly like true lizards, but most species have no pro-

nounced neck and sport relatively small legs. Several genera (e.g.,
Typhlosaurus) have no limbs at all, others, such as Neoseps, have

only reduced limbs. Often, their way of moving resembles that of

snakes more than that of other lizards. The longer the digits, the more

arboreal the species is. Skinks usually have long, tapering tails that

can be shed and regenerated. Most skink are medium sized with a

length from the snout to the vent of up to 12 cm (4.7 in), although

there are a few that grow to larger sizes, such as the Corucia, which

can reach 35 cm (13.8").

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