European Copper Skink
ExploreReptiles
European Copper Skink
Ablepharus kitaibelii
The European Copper Skink is a small, shiny lizard that loves to hide under rocks and leaves. It has a beautiful coppery color that helps it blend in with its surroundings.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The European Copper Skink is a small, sleek lizard with a distinctive shiny, bronze or coppery-brown body. It often has a subtle dark stripe along its flanks, and its smooth, polished scales give it a glass-like appearance, making it visually distinct from rougher-scaled lizards or snakes.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyScincidaeGenusAblepharus
Category
ReptilesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Instead of running, it often wriggles like a snake to move quickly through grass!
It's so small, some adults are no bigger than your finger!
This skink never blinks! It has clear, fused eyelids, like built-in goggles!
When sunbathing, its coppery scales can shimmer, perhaps confusing a predator!
Special abilities
Ability
Regenerative Tail Escape
European Copper Skink can detach its tail when caught by a predator, because it can regrow a new one, helping them escape danger.
Ability
See-Through Eyes
European Copper Skink has a transparent fused eyelid that allows them to see even when their eyes are closed, which helps them stay alert.
Ability
Slippery Scale Slide
European Copper Skink has very smooth, polished scales that help them easily slide through dense vegetation or burrow into loose soil.
Ability
Legless Lookalike
European Copper Skink has tiny, almost vestigial limbs, which helps them slither through tight spaces with snake-like fluidity.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-16 cm
- Weight
- 0.002-0.006 kg
- Lifespan
- 3-7 years
- Top Speed
- 8 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 2-6
- Incubation
- 28-42 days
Diet & Feeding
A tiny hunter, it munches on small insects and other invertebrates found hiding in the leaves.
Primary Foods
- ants
- small beetles
- spiders
- crickets
- larvae
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
Red Wood Ant
Formica rufa
A common tiny snack for the skink.
eaten by
Nosed Viper
Vipera ammodytes
A venomous snake that preys on small lizards.
eaten by
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
A swift bird of prey hunting small reptiles.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Camouflaged
Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Regenerative
Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs.
Speedster
This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see a skink, watch it from a distance and don't try to catch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is European Copper Skink?
10-16 cm
How much does European Copper Skink weigh?
0.002-0.006 kg
How long does European Copper Skink live?
3-7 years
How fast can European Copper Skink move?
8 km/h
What does European Copper Skink eat?
A tiny hunter, it munches on small insects and other invertebrates found hiding in the leaves.
Where is European Copper Skink usually found?
Grasslands
How does European Copper Skink hunt?
Foraging
How many eggs does European Copper Skink lay?
2-6
Snap Map
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