Wild kids

Common name: Eastern Water Skink
Scientific name: Eulamprus quoyii
Photo: G. A. Hoye/Nature Focus, Australian Museum

Freshwater

Eastern Water Skink

Eastern Water Skinks are reptiles. Eastern Water Skinks have a long tail and their back is greenish-greyish brown with small black spots. They also have a white stripe that runs from their eye down the side of their body. Most are around 28 cm long.

This Eastern Water Skink is climbing out of the water.

Eastern Water Skinks live in forests, woodlands and parks in eastern Australia. They shelter in holes and burrows, under logs and rocks, and near streams and ponds.

Eastern Water Skinks eat water beetles and other aquatic insects, snails, tadpoles, spiders, small fishes, smaller lizards and native fruit.

Birds, big lizards, snakes, turtles and cats like to eat Eastern Water Skinks.

Eastern Water Skinks breathe by inhaling air into their lungs.

When Eastern Water Skinks breed, the males and females mate in spring and as many as nine live babies are born in summer.