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Rainbow Skink
Afrikaans name: Reenboog Gladde Akkedis
Rainbow Skink
Photo © Steven Herbert
Trachylepis margaritifer
The Rainbow Skink is also sometimes called the Rainbow Rock Skink.
Males have a reddish tail and pale blue spots on their bodies. Females are more striped and have an electric blue tail.
Interestingly the body of males is slightly smaller, but they have longer tails with the result being that they are similar in total length.
They are found around rocks in savanna and bushveld.
The Rainbow Skink feeds on ants, termites and other insects.
Photo © Steven Herbert
References and further reading
A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Graham Alexander and Johan Marais - Year Published: 2007 - Page: 253Bill Branch's Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Bill Branch - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 130
Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 407
Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Rod Patterson and Anothony Bannister - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 50
The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar, WD Haacke and NHG Jacobsen - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 66