Reptiles · Squamata · Scincidae

Italian Three-toed Skink

Chalcides chalcides

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its long, snake-like body with four tiny three-toed limbs gives it a form somewhere between lizard and snake, suited to 'swimming' through dense grass.

Size

25 cm – 48 cm

Lifespan

2 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestGrasslandInsectivore Diurnal Solitary Reptile Temperate forest Grassland

12countries 18parks4same family

Fun facts

Its four tiny legs have only three toes each.
It is one of the few European skinks that is entirely live-bearing.
More than half its length is tail.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Sunny, densely vegetated ground — meadows, stream margins, marshes — of Italy and North Africa
Birth weight: No precise birth weight found (for the related Chalcides striatus: 0.49-0.82 g)
Size at birth: Precocial, born live and fully formed (viviparity)
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years (from the related Chalcides striatus)
Gestation / incubation: Internal gestation; the young born live (viviparity)
Litter / clutch size: A litter estimated at 5-8 young from the related Chalcides striatus

Sources consulted: Brill Amphibia-Reptilia (reproductive output study Chalcides striatus); iNaturalist; Animalia.bio; Wikipedia (Chalcides chalcides); Animal Information