White's skink
White's skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.Etymology
The specific name, whitii, and the common name, White's skink, are both in honour of Irish surgeon and naturalist John White.Geographic range
E. whitii is found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania and many Bass Strait islands.Description
White's skink is slow-growing, to a maximum snout-to-vent length of about, and may take four years to reach maturity.Reproduction
E. whitii gives birth to live young.Taxonomy
E. whitii is highly variable and may be a complex of closely related speciesHabitat
White's skink prefers dry habitats, usually on steep hills.Behaviour
E. whitii lives in families of up to seven in many-chambered tunnels with two exits to provide alternate escape routes. The main entrance usually faces west.Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
- Egernia whitii moniligera
- Egernia whitii whitii
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Egernia.
