What is it? Long, slender, striped and blue-tailed, these little critters like our deck and sidewalk.
This one left quickly, apparently being camera-shy.
Sometimes they lose their blue tails, and then they are very odd-looking indeed. This happens when a predator attacks. The skink can shed its tail, and the tail, according to at least one source, will continue to wiggle after it's detached, which distracts the predator. Well, I reckon. That would get my attention. Imagine grabbing someone's arm and it just comes off in your hand!
This big guy showed up at Derek's house--which is located on a hill in a fairly dry location.Where was he going, and why? We noticed him because of the racket he made crawling through the dry leaves by the fence.
A past encounter with one of this species taught me not to get too close. I saw one crawling beside the road, and stopped to look. The smell was overpowering, and he looked like he was in a bad mood.
I opened the door and was talking to him when he suddenly lunged at the car. I just had time to slam the door before he struck it, hard enough to leave a dent. I figured he hadn't had his morning cup of coffee yet.
And last, this visitor in the garden has had a very successful career keeping rabbits at bay.
Can you identify these critters?
**Note: there is a not-too-honest one included!
