Frequently asked questions
The things people most often ask about skinks, answered briefly. Follow the links for more detail.
Are skinks dangerous or venomous?
No. No skink is venomous. Large skinks such as blue-tongues can give a firm pinch if handled roughly, and like all reptiles they can carry Salmonella, so wash your hands after touching one.
Is a slow-worm a skink?
No. Slow-worms are legless lizards in the family Anguidae, along with glass lizards. They look skink-like because both groups have smooth, glossy scales, eyelids and detachable tails.
Are there skinks in the UK or the Isle of Man?
Not in the wild. The UK’s native lizards are the common lizard, the sand lizard and the slow-worm. The Isle of Man’s only native land reptile is the common lizard.
What is the biggest skink?
By weight, Australia’s land mullet (Bellatorias major), at up to about 1.5 kg, with the biggest blue-tongues close behind. Counting the tail, the Solomon Islands skink reaches about 70–80 cm. The extinct Cape Verde giant skink was about as heavy as the largest blue-tongues.
What is the smallest skink?
The smallest limbed skink, Scincella macrotis, has a body only about 2.4 cm long. In North America, the little brown skink is one of the smallest reptiles at about 7.5–14.5 cm including the tail.
Do skinks lay eggs or give birth?
Both. Some species lay eggs, others give birth to live young, and a few species do both in different populations.
Why do skinks drop their tails?
To escape predators. The twitching tail distracts the attacker while the skink gets away, and a new tail, supported by cartilage, grows back over time.
Does it hurt a skink to lose its tail?
It is a built-in escape mechanism designed to minimise blood loss, but it still costs the skink stored fat and energy, and the new tail is never quite the same. Avoid causing it.
What do skinks eat?
Most eat insects and other invertebrates. Bigger species, such as blue-tongues, are omnivores that also eat flowers, fruit and plants. The Solomon Islands skink is a herbivore.
Do skinks make good pets?
Captive-bred blue-tongued skinks can be rewarding pets for people prepared to provide a large heated enclosure, UVB lighting and a varied diet for 15–20 years. See our care guide.
How long do skinks live?
It varies hugely. Small species may live only a few years, while pet blue-tongues commonly live 15–20 years and wild shinglebacks can live for decades: one pair was tracked together for 27 years.
Can skinks hear?
Yes. Most skinks have external ear openings, though they rely heavily on sight and on scent picked up by the tongue.
Why is a blue-tongued skink’s tongue blue?
It is a defensive display. Flashed suddenly with a hiss, the blue tongue (which also reflects ultraviolet light) can startle a predator.
Can I keep a wild skink I found?
Please don’t. Wild reptiles are protected in many countries, and wild-caught animals often do badly in captivity. Enjoy them where they are.
I found a skink in my garden in Australia. What should I do?
Leave it be. Blue-tongues are welcome garden residents that eat snails. Keep dogs and cats away from them, avoid slug pellets, and leave some cover such as logs, rocks and dense plants.
Who writes this site?
Skinks.animals.im is written and published by REALLYBYTE on the Isle of Man, as part of the animals.im network. Get in touch at info@reallybyte.com.