EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Skink Ecdysis

Two-Spined Rainbow Skink (Carlia amaz), Family Scincidae
Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Explanation:  Check out the two photos, above.  Both are of the same species, the two-spined rainbow skink.  But why does the top one look different?

At first, I was puzzled at the odd white collar, and white lateral line, adorning the lizard in the image on top.  Is this an undescribed subspecies, or a new color morph, or what?

But then it hit me:  I was seeing what was probably the last vestige of this individual undergoing ecdysis.

Ecdysis is the process by which lizards intermittently shed their skin.  This is usually a familiar process in snakes, when they shed pretty much their entire scaly outer selves.  But lizards do it too, either as an entire body form, or in tatters and pieces.

In this rainbow skink, the old, dead scaly skin was still adhering to its neck and sides, giving it a surprising appearance, at least to this explorer.  

It's also a fine lesson when outdoors to keep your eyes open for something new!

Two-spined rainbow skinks are endemic to northern Australia, up in Northern Territory, colloquially known as the tropical "Top End" of the country.  Here, I was exploring Litchfield National Park, particularly the historic Blythe Homestead.