 The True Skinks
Mabuya species
There are several Skinks in the Watamu area all
very similar and difficult to identify to specific level
in the field. They are day-time animals that actively
hunt for their insect food. They have a smooth
appearance usually because of very small scales and are
usually a combination of black, brown and grey in colour
with blotches on the body. |
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Mabuya
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bayoni |
Bayon’s Skink |
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Mabuya
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brevicollis |
Short-necked Skink
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Mabuya |
irregularis |
Alpine-meadow Skink |
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Mabuya
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maculilabris |
Speckle-lipped Skink |
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Mabuya
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margaritifer |
Rainbow Skink |
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Mabuya
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megalura |
Grass-top Skink |
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Mabuya
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planifrons |
Tree Skink |
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Mabuya |
quinquetaeniata |
Five-lined Skink |
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Mabuya
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striata |
Striped Skink |
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Mabuya
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varia |
Variable Skink |
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The Burrowing Skinks
Lygosoma sp.
There are two common Burrowing Skinks in
the Watamu area. Like the True Skinks they are very similar and
difficult to differentiate. They have long bodies with very
short legs, and are designed to live under the ground.
Burrowing Skinks move about in sand, soft soil and leaf
litter looking for the small insects and their larvae
that they feed on. The two common ones in Watamu are
Peter’s
Burrowing Skink
Lygosoma afrum, and
Sundevall’s Burrowing Skink
Lygosoma sundevalli. |
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Lygosoma |
afrum |
Peter’s Writhing Skink
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Lygosoma
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fernandi |
Red-flanked Skink |
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Lygosoma
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mabuiiformis |
Mabuya-like Writhing Skink |
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Lygosoma
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pembanum |
Pemba Island Writhing Skink |
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Lygosoma
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somalicum |
Somali Writhing Skink |
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Lygosoma
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sundevalli |
Sundevall’s Writhing Skink |
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Lygosoma
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tanae |
Tana River Writhing Skink |
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Eumecia
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anchietae |
Western Serpentiform Skink |
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Leptosiaphos
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kilimensis |
Kilimanjaro Five-Toed Skink |
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Cryptoblepharus
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boutonii |
Coral Rag Skink |
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The small
lizard you see on the coral cliffs and islands you see
on the sea front is this skink. The Coral Rag Skink is
black or dark brown in colour with a silvery-gold stripe
on the side. They run around on the coral outcrops
looking for young crabs, other crustaceans and insects.
They are only found by the sea and seem to be tolerant
of salt water for they will jump into the sea to avoid
capture. |
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Panaspis
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wahlbergii |
Wahlberg’s Snake-eyed Skink |
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Chalcides
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ocellatus |
Ocellated Skink |
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Acontias |
percivali |
Percival’s Legless Skink |
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Feylinia |
currori |
Western Forest Limbless Skink |
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