Broad-banded sand swimmer (Eremiascincus richardsonii)

An aggressive, nocturnal desert hunter. Can escape predators in an instant by burrowing into sand with a wriggling, snake-like motion.

Size: Up to 30 cm
Food: Moths, termites, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders and occasionally small lizards

Three-toed skink (Saiphos equlalis)

Sometimes mistaken for a snake, as it has very small legs, the three-toed skink may be found munching on crawling insects and worms in garden compost heaps.

Size: Up to 20 cm
Food: Crawling insects, centipedes, larvae and worms

Lined fire-tailed skink (Morethia ruficauda)

This little lizard is thought to wave its fiery tail to communicate.

Size: Up to 9 cm
Food: Spiders, ants, moths and beetles

Garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti)

The coppery garden skink can be found basking and foraging among the leaf litter of suburban gardens. Large groups of more than 18 lizards may latch onto each other during spring mating season in flamboyant territorial displays.

Size: Up to 10 cm
Food: Flies, ants, moths and worms

Blotched bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea)

Australia is host to six species of bluetongue. The blotched bluetongue can often be seen basking on rocks and roads in southeastern Australia.

Size: Up to 40 cm
Food: Insects, snails, slugs, worms, spiders, mice, fungi, flowers and fruit

Lancelin Island skink (Egernia major)

Known only to inhabit Lancelin Island, a 7.6 ha nature reserve 115 km north of Perth. Populations of this rare skink are threatened due to the invasion of its habitat by exotic weeds and disturbance by humans.

Size: Up to 8 cm
Food: Insects and larvae

Land mullet (Egernia major)

Powerfully built with a fish-like head and body, the land mullet is Australia’s largest skink. Foraging for plant material such as fungi and fruit on the rainforest floor, this giant can live up to 23 years.

Size: Up to 70 cm
Food: Fungi, fallen fruit, snails, slugs and insects

Pygmy spiny-tailed skink (Egernia depressa)

A prickly, desert-dwelling lizard that lives in small family groups in tree hollows, rock crevices and termite mounds. Evades predators by inflating its body with air to jam itself in wood or rock cracks.

Size: Up to 16 cm
Food: Primarily insects and some flowers, fruit, soft leaves and shoots