Saturday, March 19, 2011

Crocodile Skink

The crocodile skink (Tribolonotus gracilis) is a species of skink found in Papua New Guinea, near Australia.  Their head resembles a head of a crocodile and therefore is named the crocodile skink.They are rated as 'vulnerable' by IUCN.

Physical Features
The crocodile skink measures about 8 inches (20 cm).  They weigh about 500 grams.  Their heads are triangular in shape and has a casque at the rear.  The scales on their tail awkwardly point backward.  They have big and spiny scales along their back like crocodiles have.  These skinks have a body color of brown on the back and have a yellowish brown color in the underside.There is always and orange ring type outline around their eyes.  There is a yellow pigment present on the anterior edge of their eyes.

Crocodile skinks are omnivorous.  They eat both plants and insects.  They will prefer eating insects on plants but sometimes eat plants when insects are scarce.

Life Cycle
Female crocodile skinks lay on egg and occasionally two eggs.  The eggs hatch after 65 to 75 days.Several clutches of eggs are laid during the correct season.  Males protects the eggs while females go out in search of food for themselves.

Distribution and Habitat
The crocodile skink lives in coconut plantations and forests which are close to water or some wetland.  they are only found in New Guinea.

Source of pic 1 


  1. Thanks for making us aware of this creature Saketh, its like watching a miniature crocodile:)

  2. Where did you get the status from the IUCN? The skinks are not listed on the red list site.

  3. I checked the site and understand that you're right, but I refer to many recent books and found out that crocodile skinks are on the red list as given in 'Animal Fact Files - Reptiles and Amphibians'written by Chris Mattison with Val Davies and David Alderton published by Brown Reference Group Inc (edition published in 2007). The referred page no. is 161.