Sandfish skink

This skink dives and ‘swims’ under the sand

FinnHK

This reptile is a sand-dweller. It’s native to desert regions throughout North Africa and southwest Asia. The Sandfish Skink is appropriately named because of its fantastic ability to move and travel through sand, similar to how a fish swims in water.

It has a unique sand-filtering system that allows it to inhale and exhale within the sand without aspirating sand particles into the lungs. Sandfish skinks are insectivores. To locate prey, they depend on sand surface vibrations. Researchers do not know much about their behavior because of their elusive and secretive nature.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Algeria
2014
Bahrain
2014
Egypt
2014
Iran
2014
Iraq
2014
Israel
2014
Jordan
2014
Kuwait
2014
Libya
2014
Mali
2014
Mauritania
2014
Niger
2014
Saudi Arabia
2014
Sudan
2014
Tunisia
2014
UAE
2014
Yemen
2014

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No