Red and black bars on silver flanks and a back of smooth gold scales give the fire skink its name. It is a shy forest-floor burrower, active by day, digging in damp soil and leaf litter and emerging to forage.
It has been placed in several different genera since it was described, a reminder that even familiar skinks are still being reclassified.
For keepers: Kept by hobbyists, but shy and best observed rather than handled. Needs deep, humid, diggable substrate. Many animals in trade are wild-caught; seek captive-bred. Care guide →
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