Land
King's Skink

secret trick to a quick escape King's Skink

Noongar name - Yulart (skink)

Hear all about it!

The King's Skink is very common on Rottnest Island. They can be spotted sunning themselves on rocks, roadsides or pathways. It is fast moving and you can hear them scuttling away to hide in the bush.

King's Skinks live in small family groups. They shelter in rock crevices and dead logs and will sometimes dig their own burrow.

Habitat: Limestone heath, Woodland, Coastal habitat, Settlement

Description: The King’s Skink has quite fine scales and has olive brown to blackish upper surfaces with paler sides. It’s under surfaces are greyish white or olive yellow. Lines of spots run along its body. A pattern caused by lighter coloured centres of its scales on its back and sides. It has dark drown spots on its throat and a long tail which narrows towards the end.

Diet: Insects, plant material, eggs, small mammals, snakes

Body length: 40-55 centimetres

Weight: 220 grams

Number of young: 2-8 (born live)

Gestation period: 140-154 days

Where you can find a King's Skink

Conservation Status

The King's Skink is listed as Least Concern under IUCN (2016). All Rottnest Island’s fauna is protected under the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987.

Extinct
Extinct in Wild
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concerned

Help keep Rottnest’s environment healthy

Do Not feed the animals on Rottnest
Do Not disturb the wildlife
Do enjoy watching them on their own terms

King's Skink Gallery

Hey there! Did you know...

The King Skink will detach its tail if it is caught by a predator. Leaving its tail behind allows it to escape. It then grows a new one.

Want to know more?

Download the King's Skink fact file!

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