NEW ZEALAND SKINKS

The Engineer was shifting the heifers thismorning and spotted a family of skinks camped in a blue salt lick tray stored under a pine hedge. It had a collection of leaf litter in the bottom. The skinks had made a nest in the litter and living very comfortably out of the weather under the hedge .
After I had blipped them the family were returned to the hedge row.
Skinks are no longer protected under the Wildlife Act, and Skinks are the most frequently encountered of our reptiles. They are often glimpsed in gardens running for cover & often referred to as the "common garden skink". But there is nothing common about the 26 endemic species, which have a regionalised distribution. They vary in colours & size, the longest skink attaining a length of 350mm (including tail). Skinks are highly alert animals, with an exceptional sense of smell, hearing, & sight. Some are vocal. All but one species are live-bearers, producing 1-8 "miniature adults". They are good climbers, despite their relatively small limbs & large bodies. Skinks have been observed nodding at each other, quivering their tails when excited. They are also good swimmers