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Native fauna

Cunningham's Skink

Egernia cunninghami
SA Endangered

A large, armoured, rock-dwelling lizard, endangered in South Australia, living in Skye's outcrops.

Cunningham's Skink, Egernia cunninghami, at Skye Sanctuary

How to identify it

  • Large, heavy-bodied skink, to about 30 cm total length.
  • Heavily armoured with strongly keeled, spiny scales.
  • A short spiny tail it wedges into rock cracks to block predators.
  • Dark brown to black with pale cream flecking.

Where it lives

Rocky outcrops and crevices on the eastern-facing slopes. Lives in family groups, basks on the rock, and bolts into the crack when disturbed.

When to look

Active and basking in the warmer months.

Habitat page: mat-rush and rock outcrop.

Status at Skye

Priority species at Skye. The rock outcrops are never disturbed because this lizard depends on them.

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