Rainbow skink facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rainbow skink
Female (top) and male (below) basking on a granite outcrop in South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Trachylepis
Species:	margaritifera
Synonyms
Euprepes margaritifer Peters 1854 Mabuya obsti Werner 1913 Mabuya obsti Loveridge 1923 Mabuya quinquetaeniata obsti Loveridge 1936 Mabuya quinquetaeniata obsti Broadley 1962 Mabuya quinquetaeniata margaritifer Broadley 1962 Mabuya quinquetaeniata margaritifer Broadley & Howell 1991 Mabuya margaritifer Branch 1993 Mabuya quinquetaeniata margaritifer Bauer et al. 1995 Mabuya margaritifera Broadley & Bauer 1999 Euprepis margaritiferus Mausels et al. 2002 Trachylepis margaritifera Bauer 2003 Trachylepis margaritifer Branch et al. 2005 Mabuya margaritifer Cooper 2005

The rainbow skink (Trachylepis margaritifera) is a type of skink found in Africa. Skinks are a kind of lizard that look a bit like snakes because they have smooth, shiny scales and often short legs. This particular skink is known for its bright colors, especially when it's young.

What is a Rainbow Skink?

The rainbow skink is a specific kind of skink. Its scientific name is Trachylepis margaritifera. It used to be considered a subspecies, or a smaller group, of another skink called the five-lined mabuya. But in 1998, scientists decided it was different enough to be its own full species.

What Does a Rainbow Skink Look Like?

Rainbow skinks are medium-sized lizards. They can grow to be about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long. Their colors can change a lot depending on if they are male or female, and how old they are.

Colors and Patterns

Their scales are very shiny, almost metallic. The main color is usually olive-brown or dark brown. Sometimes, they have pearly white spots. They also have three bright yellow-orange stripes. These stripes run from their head all the way to their tail. The tail is often a striking electric blue color! As the skinks get older, these stripes might become less clear.

Body Features

The rainbow skink has a pointed snout. You can clearly see its ear holes. Just behind the ears, there are some black spots. Their legs are dark brown, short, and strong. They have relatively long toes. The sides of their body are mostly yellowish, and their belly is whitish.

Where Do Rainbow Skinks Live?

Rainbow skinks live in southern Africa. You can find them in places like KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and southern Malawi. There are also smaller groups of them living in central and southeastern Tanzania and southern Kenya. They prefer to live in rocky and mountainous areas in these countries.