Skinks are the largest group of lizards in Australia and there are around 325 species of skinks.
Common name: Robust Striped Skink or Striped Skink
Scientific name: Ctenotus robustus
Photo: G. A. Hoye/Nature Focus, Australian Museum
See if you can identify skinks that live in your garden or school yard.
Reptiles
Robust Striped Skinks
Robust Striped Skinks live in southern, eastern and northern Australia. They are found in coastal sand dunes, forests and rocky areas.
The Robust Striped Skink has stripes down its back.
Robust Striped Skinks eat insects and spiders. Robust Striped Skinks find their food using their senses of smell, taste and sight.
These skinks walk around looking for prey. They catch prey in their jaws. They then bite and crush it. They swallow it whole.
Birds, other reptiles and mammals eat Robust Striped Skinks.
Robust Striped Skinks walk and run on all four legs.
They lay two to nine eggs each breeding season. Young Robust Striped Skinks look after themselves.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
