Trachylepis capensis (Cape skink)

Lizards have been on earth for over 140 million years.  Their jawbones appear in the fossil record during the early Cretaceous period and Skink fossils appear later, during the Miocene period. 

Trachylepis capensis is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae and is probably the most sited reptile in South Africa.   This species of skink is live-bearing and is known to give birth to litters of about a dozen babies. 

It can be easily reconised by its large jaw and three light stripes on its back.  Its skin is olive-brown to grey, Between the stripes and extending onto the flanks are series of dark brown to black spots or short bars. The belly is greyish white. Its body is elongated with short legs and sharp claws.  These claws are useful when they need to climb rough surfaces to escape from predators.  They use their  tongues to sniff the air and track their prey.

Skinks can shed their tails in response to an attack by a predator – the tail will re-grow over time, but never as long as it was.

Like most skinks, the Cape skink is largely terrestrial and is active during the hours of daylight.  The Cape skink usually digs itself a small tunnel at the foot of a boulder or tree, but anything that it can hide under is used as a temporary shelter. In its natural habitat it is considerably more shy, though it can often be heard as it scuttles away through the bushes.