Identification
Rawlinson’s Skink, Pseudemoia rawlinsoni, is grey-brown, olive or brown above with a dark vertebral stripe. It is distinguished from other Victorian members of this complex by having the pale stripe a scale wide running from behind the ear to the tail lying on scale row 3 not row 4. It has a snout vent length of up to 63 mm.
Rawlinson’s Skink
Photographer: Peter Robertson. Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd.
Distribution and habitat
Rawlinson’s Skink is distributed widely over coastal areas, together with areas to the north east of Melbourne including the high plains. It appears to be restricted to swampy areas including brackish marshes.
Biology
Active by day, this sun loving species feeds on small invertebrates. Females give birth to a maximum of 8 live young in late summer.
Further Reading
Cogger, H. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books.
Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2003. Reptiles of Australia. Princeton University Press.