The Garden Skink is one of the many different skinks, or droptail lizards, that can be found in most gardens and bushland areas. Often seen sunning themselves on paths and open spaces, if surprised it will dash away for cover. It searches for insects and spiders to eat in low vegetation and leaf litter. In late spring and early summer the female lays up to five small white eggs which hatch by autumn. They find a sheltered, dry spot to overwinter.

The Garden Skink, like many lizards will ‘drop’ or shed its tail to get away from a predator. The tail continues to wiggle for a time after the lizard has got away, and a new tail will grow back.

Size: 4cm, tail 5cm

Illustration and photos: Mark Trinham