Ctenotus taeniolatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ctenotus taeniolatus |
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Ctenotus
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| Species: |
taeniolatus
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The copper-tailed skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus) is a cool, medium-sized lizard found mostly along the eastern coast of Australia. You might also hear it called the copper-tailed ctenotus. These skinks love sunny spots in open bushland and heathland areas. They can grow to be about 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) long, including their tail!
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About the Copper-tailed Skink
The copper-tailed skink is a type of lizard. It is known for its distinctive stripes and its love for warm, open spaces. These skinks are quite common in their natural habitat. They are a great example of the amazing wildlife found in Australia.
What Do They Look Like?
Copper-tailed skinks have a unique look. Their bodies are mostly olive brown on top. They have cool stripes of dark brown and white that run all the way from their head to their tail.
Right down their back, they have a black stripe with white edges. This is called a vertebral band. They also have a white stripe along their sides, which is also outlined in black. The rest of their sides are dark brown with white spots.
Where Do They Live?
These skinks are found all over Australia, but especially along the eastern coast. They prefer places that are rocky or sandy. You can often spot them in open bushland and heathland areas.
Copper-tailed skinks love to find sunny spots to warm up. This is called basking. They always make sure there's some cover nearby. This way, they can quickly hide if a predator comes along.
What Do They Eat?
Like many other skinks, the copper-tailed skink is a carnivore. This means they eat other creatures. Their diet mainly consists of small invertebrates.
These small creatures include insects and worms. Skinks are important for controlling insect populations in their environment.
