Eastern Skink
Scincus mitranus
- Least concern
- Card rarity: Common
- Reptiles
The eastern skink, also known commonly as the Arabian sand skink and the eastern sandfish, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae (skinks). The species is native to the deserts and arid lands of the Arabian Peninsula north to Western Iran. Truly at home within fine, loosely-grained desert sand, this skink is known for resting while completely buried, keeping only its nostrils, and possibly part of its face, above ground for oxygen. In addition to ambushing passing invertebrate prey, S. mitranus will readily "dive" into the sand at the first sign of danger, appearing to "swim" through the dunes as it hastily buries itself deeper to hide.
Classification
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Scincidae
- Genus
- Scincus