Southwestern cool-skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southwestern cool-skink |
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The southwestern cool-skink (Acritoscincus trilineatus) is a small lizard. It is a type of skink, which is a common group of lizards. This skink lives in the cooler parts of southern Australia.
Discovering the Southwestern Cool-Skink
A scientist named John Edward Gray first described this skink in 1838. He studied a specimen, which is a sample of an animal, at the British Museum of Natural History.
When it was first discovered, Gray thought it belonged to a different group of lizards. Over time, scientists learned more about it.
People call this skink by a few names. Some names are the western three-lined skink or New Holland skink. The name "southwestern cool-skink" comes from the cooler places it lives.
What Does the Cool-Skink Look Like?
The southwestern cool-skink has a body that is fairly strong and solid. Its scales are smooth to the touch. It has strong legs with five toes on each foot.
From its head to the tip of its tail, it can grow to be about 190 millimeters long. That's about 7.5 inches. Its body, from snout to where its tail starts, is about 70 millimeters (2.7 inches).
Both male and female skinks have a red patch on their throat. This patch can get brighter during the breeding season. This makes it easier to spot.
The colors of the southwestern cool-skink look a lot like another skink. That skink is called the southern grass-skink (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii). They live in similar areas.
Where the Cool-Skink Lives
This skink likes places that are damp and cool. You can often find it in wetlands. It enjoys basking in sunny spots early in the day to warm up.
Its home also includes areas that get wet during certain seasons. But these places always have some native plants. The skink hunts for small insects during the day. It switches between eating and basking depending on the weather.
The southwestern cool-skink lives in Southwest Australia. Its range goes from Israelite Bay to Gingin. It also lives on Rottnest Island, which is off the coast.
There is also a smaller group of these skinks in South Australia. They live near the tip of the Eyre Peninsula. Scientists often see these skinks in their surveys. This means they are common in their habitat.
In 2017, the IUCN Red List said this skink is of "least concern." This means it is not currently at high risk of disappearing.
- Maryan, B., Ford, S., Shea, G. & Gaikhorst, G. 2017. Acritoscincus trilineatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T178407A101752743. Downloaded on 22 July 2019.
