There are 389 species of skink in Australia in 38 genera. Skinks make up about half of our lizard species.

Skinks have the ability to break off part of their tail and regrow it.

Around 80% of skink species lay eggs (oviparous); 20% bear live young (viviparous).

NB. The classification of species is not static and differences in the following references will be found.

References:

• The Australian Biological Resources Study - used for nomenclature and current classifications.
• A Field Guide to Reptiles of NSW - Gerry Swan, Glenn Shea and Ross Sadlier
• Native Fauna of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area - Judy Smith, Peter Smith and Kate Smith
• The Australian Reptile Online Database - Stewart Macdonald.

Species on this webpage:

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The Blue Mountains Water Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis) was first described in 1984.

Also known as the Blue Mountains Swamp-skink, this endangered lizard is only found in swamps in the greater Blue Mountains.

They have a light coloured stripe running from the lip to below the ear, and a short stripe above the ear.

Here's detailed information about the Blue Mountains Water Skink.

This photo was taken by Nakia Belmer.

The Eastern Water‑skink (Eulamprus quoyii) is also known as the Golden Water Skink, or simply as the Water Skink.

They grow to about 30cm, and can be found in the coastal rivers and creeks of New South Wales and Queensland, and inland in the Murray-Darling River System into Victoria and South Australia.

Its olive glean helps to identify it as does a narrow whitish stripe from its eye down towards its hind legs.

Here's another image.

These photos were taken in Cheltenham in Sydney.

The Yellow‑bellied Water‑skink (Eulamprus heatwolei) is hard to identify from other members of the genus.

But the lack of the olive glean and stripe down the side of its back most probably identifies the one shown here.

I couldn't get a glimpse of its belly!

This photo was taken in Leura in the Blue Mountains.

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There are about thirty species in the Egernia genus. All are viviparous.

The Black Rock Skink (Egernia saxatilis) is also known as the Black Crevice Skink.

They grow to about 22cm and, as the name implies, live in the crevices of rocky outcrops.

The Black Rock Skink can be found in south-east Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

This photo was taken in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.

King's Skink (Egernia kingii) occurs in coastal south-west Western Australia, and can grow to 55cm.

There is a belief that you won't find snakes where you find King's Skinks.

This photo was taken in Albany, Western Australia.

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They're the largest lizard in the Skink family and are viviparous.

The six members of the genus are -

• Blotched Blue-tongue (Tiliqua nigrolutea)
• Centralian Blue-tongue (Tiliqua multifasciata)
• Eastern Blue-tongue (Tiliqua scincoides)
• Pygmy Blue-tongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis)
• Shingle-back (Tiliqua rugosa)
• Western Blue-tongue (Tiliqua occipitalis)

The Blotched Blue‑tongue (Tiliqua nigrolutea) is easily recognised by its orange and/or ochre blotches.

It has a similar shape to the Shingleback, except it has a more standard tail that accounts for about a third of its overall length, and its scales are smoother.

It is also known as the Southern Blue-tongue as it is found in the south-eastern part of Australia.

Their colours vary as these images show.

Note the ticks behind the front legs of the lizard from Bibbenluke - the lizard can't reach this part of its body.

Here's another image.

These photos were taken in the Blue Mountains and near Bibbenluke in south-eastern NSW.

The Eastern Blue‑tongue (Tiliqua scincoides), also known as the Common Blue-tongue, is arguably the best known blue-tongue. This is most probably due to it being "common", and the only one found in the greater Sydney area.

The Eastern Blue‑tongue is the largest Australian skink and can grow to 60cm in length and weigh a kilogram.

Like the other members of the genus, it will hiss and stick out its blue tongue when cornered.

It can be found in all states except Tasmania. In Western Australia it is only found in the eastern half of the state.

This photo was taken in Cheltenham in Sydney.

The Shingle‑back or Stumpy-tail (Tiliqua rugosa) can be found in all southern states except Tasmania.

They grow to about 35cm and are viviparous.

The Shingle-back is also known as the Two-headed Lizard as it can lead a predator into believing that its tail is actually its head, and if threatened, can lose its tail and escape. It can regenerate its tail.

The Shingle‑back in Western Australia is a browner colour and can have a different coloured head to the rest of its body.

The first two Shingle-back photos were taken in the Mungo National Park in NSW; the third was taken near Lake Grace in Western Australia.

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The apt named Copper‑tailed Skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus) grows to about 22cm and can be found all along the east coast.

They lay eggs (oviparous).

This image shows two Copper-tailed skinks fighting. I can only assume they were males as it was mating season.

These photos were taken in Leura in the Blue Mountains.

Mainland She‑oak Skinks (Cyclodomorphus michaeli) are found in the greater Sydney area and ranges.

Here's an image that shows the full length and includes a rule. Mainland She-oak Skinks are "live-bearing" and this may be a gravid female.

This photo was taken in Leura in the Blue Mountains.

The Red‑throated Skink (Acritoscincus platynotus) lays eggs.

It was formerly the Bassiana platynotum, and can be found in South-eastern Australia.

This photo was taken in Leura in the Blue Mountains.

The vivid colours easily identifies the breeding male Southern Rainbow-skink (Carlia tetradactyla).

Members of this skink genus have four fingers and five toes, and lay eggs.

This photo was taken by Jamie Gilmore in the Hunter Valley.

The Weasel Skink (Saproscincus mustelinus) is often found in compost bins - which is where I found this one.

The reddish stripe on its side from its hind legs along its tail helps identify it. It lays eggs.

This photo was taken in Leura in the Blue Mountains.

White's Skink (Liopholis whitii) is easily recognised by the white dotted black stripes along its back.

They can grow to over 35cm and can be found in all eastern states as well as South Australia.

It was previously Egernia whitii.

This photo was taken in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.