Yellow-bellied Three-toed Skink

About the Yellow-bellied Three-toed Skink

Saiphos equalis, commonly known as the yellow-bellied three-toed skink or simply three-toed skink, is a species of burrowing skink found in eastern Australia. It is the only species classified under the genus Saiphos. The lizard has attracted scientific attention due to its dual reproduction habits of producing young via eggs in coastal populations, or via live young in colder mountain regions.

Saiphos equalis grows to a length of 18 cm (7.1 in) including the tail. It has a brown back and an orange belly. The skink is active at night, and feeds on insects. Along the coastal lowlands of Australia, the skink has been observed laying eggs and giving birth to live young for reproduction. Individuals of the species in the lowlands lay eggs (oviparous), while its neighbors to the north in the mountains are almost exclusively giving birth to live young (viviparous).

Saiphos equalis was originally described by the British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1825 as Seps equalis. In 1831, Gray reclassified it under a genus he separately established, Saiphos. Saiphos equalis is now considered to be the only member of the genus Saiphos. It belongs to... Wikipedia →