29 June 2008

Red-legged Ctenotus - Ctenotus labillardieri

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Red-legged Ctenotus - Ctenotus labillardieri

I was quietly sitting on this granite outcrop, when this skink popped out from under a rock to see what I was doing. Apparently rocky outcrops are its preferred habitat. You can see in the photos above why they call it red-legged and that feature separates it from other skinks, although its markings can vary considerably. Another consistent feature of this lizard is the continuos line separating the back from the flanks. It grows to around 8 inches (200 mm) in length.