A small, sleek, and fast-moving lizard native to eastern Australia. Despite its modest size and secretive nature, the rainbow skink is one of the most common and widespread reptiles in its range—and a familiar guest in backyards, parks, forests, and even city gardens. It gets its name from the subtle iridescence in its scales, which, when caught in the right light, can shimmer with a faint rainbow-like sheen, giving the otherwise brown or bronze lizard a touch of unexpected beauty.

These skinks have tails that often extend their total length to nearly double that size. Their smooth, glossy scales range from bronze to brown, often with darker stripes or flecks along the sides and a light-colored belly. Though not brightly colored like some tropical lizards, their metallic shine in the sunlight gives them the “rainbow” name.

Rainbow skinks are diurnal and love the sun. You’ll often see them basking on rocks, pathways, fences, or tree stumps during warm parts of the day, especially in the morning. They are very quick and alert, darting for cover at the slightest movement, and can squeeze into the narrowest cracks to avoid predators. Their preferred habitats include leaf litter, log piles, under rocks, or in crevices—basically any place that offers warmth, cover, and food.

As insectivores, rainbow skinks feed on small invertebrates, including ants, spiders, flies, beetles, and caterpillars. In gardens, they help control pest populations and are harmless to humans. Their presence is actually a good sign of a healthy, pesticide-free environment.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

2017

New Zealand

2017

Introduced: North Is.

United States

2017

Introduced: Hawaiian Is.