Fernand's skink, Togo fire skink, True fire skink
The Fire skink (Mochlus fernandi) is a fairly large species of lizard known for its bright and vivid coloration. It is native to tropical forests in West and Central Africa and is often kept as a pet.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Fire skink is notable for its vivid, bright colors. Smooth, gold scales adorn its back, while red and black bars set against a silver background line its sides. Males are, in general, bulkier than females with a slightly flatter head and wider jaws.
Fire skinks are found in the humid forests of southern West and Central Africa, from Guinea and Sierra Leone to Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Fire skinks are shy and secretive creatures. They prefer to live on their own. They are active during the day and at night hide in their shelters which they burrow in the ground. When feeling threatened Fire skinks puff their throats and arch their backs; if provoked they may bite. They can also shed their long tails if predators catch them.
Fire skinks are mainly carnivores (insectivores). They feed on various invertebrates, small beetles, and snails.
Fire skinks are oviparous and females usually lay a clutch of 5 to 9 eggs. The eggs take 40 to 50 days to hatch when incubated at a temperature of 85 °F (29 °C).
This species is not considered threatened at present but the loss of its native habitat due to deforestation may pose a threat in the future.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Fire skink total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
