Skinks

Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, one of the most diverse families of lizards. Skinks are characterized by their smaller legs in comparison to typical lizards and are found in different habitats except arctic and subarctic regions. Most species have long, tapering tails they can shed if predators grab onto them. Such species generally can regenerate the lost part of a tail, though imperfectly. A lost tail can grow back within around three to four months. Skinks can often hide easily in their habitat because of their protective coloring (camouflage). Many spend their time underground where they are mostly safe from predators, sometimes even digging out tunnels for easy navigation. They also use their tongues to sniff the air and track their prey. When skinks encounter their prey, they chase it down until they corner it or manage to land a bite and then swallow it whole. They can be voracious hunters.