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Description

Species Name: Cunningham's Skink

Species Latin Name: Egernia cunninghami

Also Known As: Cunningham's Spiny-tailed Skink

Native To: Southeastern Australia

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Photo Taken At: Ballarat Wildlife Park

Size (length): 25 - 40cm (9.8 – 16.0 inches)

Weight: 200 – 250 grams (7.0 – 8.8 oz)

Lifespan: 20 – 30 years

Diet: Omnivore

Lifestyle: Terrestrial, oviparous, viviparous, precocial, diurnal

Mating Behaviour: Monogamous

Reproductive Season: Spring

Pregnancy Duration: 3-4 months

Births per pregnancy: 1 – 11 live young

Description:

The Cunningham's Skink can be identified by their long tail, they have prickly scales that run down the back of their necks down to the tip of their pointed tails. They have rather short legs which causes them to slide their bellies on the ground as they move, they are relatively large for a skink/lizard and will generally reach a size of 25 – 40cm (9.8 – 16.0 inches). The colours of their scales can vary from a dark brown with reddish hues to a more jet black colouration. Throughout their bodies there will be numerous scattered paler spots and flecks, the underparts of their bodies will be more whitish compared to the rest of their bodies. Their throats tend to be darker and more prominently patterned than the rest of their bodies. This species is usually confused with the Blue-tongued Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)

Diet:

This species of skink are omnivores with a preference for plant matter, they will spend their days foraging for food including flowers, berries, young green shoots, fungi, and leaves. This species will also consume non plant matter material such as insects. The juveniles of this species will have a stronger preference towards a carnivorous diet, this will adjust into a more vegetarian styled diet as they mature into adults.

Behaviour:

This species will tend to live in large social communities likely consisting of the breeding pair and other close relations. These skinks are reported as being active mostly during the day and that they form highly monogamous bonds. Despite usually staying in the same area and not dispersing this species seem to actively avoid inbreeding even where there population is quite fragmented. When these animals feel safe they can generally be seen basking in the sun on some rocks.

Mating will generally occur in the spring where gestation can take between 3 - 4 months, the mother will give birth to anywhere between 1 – 11 live young in the late summer. The young will usually stay within the social group for several years as they mature.

Threats:

Although this species is currently listed as least concern there is research being done into specific populations of this species. In areas such as the southern Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia they are considered endangered, some local populations have disappeared entirely likely due to the fragmented distribution of the population. This species is protected in all states of Australia where they are present, it is illegal to take specimens from the wild and most of the individuals in the pet trade have come from captive breeding.

This species will tend to live in large social groups which helps them spot any potential threats easier, when threatened the Cunningham's Skink will retreat into a hollow log, under some bark, or between some rocks. If the skink is further harassed when hiding they will inhale deeply to swell their bodies, the increased body size and their pointed scales make it harder for a predator to dislodge them from their hiding place. If this fails they will drop their tail and run away whilst the predator is distracted, the lizard is unharmed by losing their tail.

There are currently no major threats for this species other than in South Australia as mentioned before, there are concerns that the continued expansion of urban and sub-urban zones will displace this species numbers to such an extend that it could threaten their numbers in the future.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunningh…

Australian Museum: australian.museum/learn/animal…

Animalia: animalia.bio/cunninghams-skink

Reptile Park: www.reptilepark.com.au/cunning…

The Animal Facts: www.theanimalfacts.com/reptile…

Description

Species Name: Cunningham's Skink

Species Latin Name: Egernia cunninghami

Also Known As: Cunningham's Spiny-tailed Skink

Native To: Southeastern Australia

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Photo Taken At: Ballarat Wildlife Park

Size (length): 25 - 40cm (9.8 – 16.0 inches)

Weight: 200 – 250 grams (7.0 – 8.8 oz)

Lifespan: 20 – 30 years

Diet: Omnivore

Lifestyle: Terrestrial, oviparous, viviparous, precocial, diurnal

Mating Behaviour: Monogamous

Reproductive Season: Spring

Pregnancy Duration: 3-4 months

Births per pregnancy: 1 – 11 live young

Description:

The Cunningham's Skink can be identified by their long tail, they have prickly scales that run down the back of their necks down to the tip of their pointed tails. They have rather short legs which causes them to slide their bellies on the ground as they move, they are relatively large for a skink/lizard and will generally reach a size of 25 – 40cm (9.8 – 16.0 inches). The colours of their scales can vary from a dark brown with reddish hues to a more jet black colouration. Throughout their bodies there will be numerous scattered paler spots and flecks, the underparts of their bodies will be more whitish compared to the rest of their bodies. Their throats tend to be darker and more prominently patterned than the rest of their bodies. This species is usually confused with the Blue-tongued Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)

Diet:

This species of skink are omnivores with a preference for plant matter, they will spend their days foraging for food including flowers, berries, young green shoots, fungi, and leaves. This species will also consume non plant matter material such as insects. The juveniles of this species will have a stronger preference towards a carnivorous diet, this will adjust into a more vegetarian styled diet as they mature into adults.

Behaviour:

This species will tend to live in large social communities likely consisting of the breeding pair and other close relations. These skinks are reported as being active mostly during the day and that they form highly monogamous bonds. Despite usually staying in the same area and not dispersing this species seem to actively avoid inbreeding even where there population is quite fragmented. When these animals feel safe they can generally be seen basking in the sun on some rocks.

Mating will generally occur in the spring where gestation can take between 3 - 4 months, the mother will give birth to anywhere between 1 – 11 live young in the late summer. The young will usually stay within the social group for several years as they mature.

Threats:

Although this species is currently listed as least concern there is research being done into specific populations of this species. In areas such as the southern Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia they are considered endangered, some local populations have disappeared entirely likely due to the fragmented distribution of the population. This species is protected in all states of Australia where they are present, it is illegal to take specimens from the wild and most of the individuals in the pet trade have come from captive breeding.

This species will tend to live in large social groups which helps them spot any potential threats easier, when threatened the Cunningham's Skink will retreat into a hollow log, under some bark, or between some rocks. If the skink is further harassed when hiding they will inhale deeply to swell their bodies, the increased body size and their pointed scales make it harder for a predator to dislodge them from their hiding place. If this fails they will drop their tail and run away whilst the predator is distracted, the lizard is unharmed by losing their tail.

There are currently no major threats for this species other than in South Australia as mentioned before, there are concerns that the continued expansion of urban and sub-urban zones will displace this species numbers to such an extend that it could threaten their numbers in the future.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunningh…

Australian Museum: australian.museum/learn/animal…

Animalia: animalia.bio/cunninghams-skink

Reptile Park: www.reptilepark.com.au/cunning…

The Animal Facts: www.theanimalfacts.com/reptile…