Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) Family: Skinks (Scincidae) Order: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata)

Size:  Snout-vent length 20 cm, total length 35-40 cm. Distribution:  Southeastern Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria). Habitat:  Dry sclerophyll forest and humid woodland. Some populations are mainly rock-inhabiting, others dwell largely in fallen hollow timber. Food:  Mainly fruit, seeds and other plant material, but also arthropods and small vertebrates. Reproduction:  Live-bearing, with 4-6 youngs per clutch. Activity and behaviour:  Diurnal and crepuscular. Lives communally in groups consisting of adults, subadults and juveniles. Variation:  Highly variable with very distinct colour forms in different populations. Some authorities recognise different subspecies, whereas others just consider the skink a highly variable species. Status:  Not generally threatened, but listed as Endangered in South Australia. References: Cogger, H.G. 1996. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 5th ed. with revised appendix. Reed Books, Port Melbourne. 796 pp. Swanson, S. 2007. Field guide to Australian reptiles. Steve Parish Publishing, Archerfield. 272 pp. Wilson, S. 2005. A field guide to reptiles of Queensland. New Holland, Sydney, etc. 256 pp. Wilson, S.; Swan, G. 2010. A complete guide to reptiles of Australia. 3rd edition. New Holland, Sydney, Auckland, etc. 558 pp. Text & layout: Rune Midtgaard

Gallery Home A maximum size of about 40 cm makes Cunningham's Skink one of the largest skink species, a family of lizards counting c. 1500 species found mainly in Australia, Asia, and Africa. © Rune Midtgaard.