Cunningham’s Skink sunning itself
Cunningham’s Skink
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens [ISO 640, 800mm, f/9.0 and 1/1600])
With the warmer weather the reptiles are back out in numbers in Namadgi National Park, especially Cunningham’s Skinks (Egernia cunninghami). It seems that once the sun has started warming up the valley, the skinks emerge from their crevices and sun themselves. They don’t go far from their preferred crevice, and they appear to have very good senses. I may be several metres away but the skink is able to detect me and disappear down its rock crevice. The adult above shows the spiky and keeled scales that the skink can use to help wedge itself into a crevice. If a predator tries to dislodge the skink, it can inhale and use those scales to help wedge itself tightly agains the sides of the crevice, making it impossible to move. Although, they are known to sun themselves in groups, I have so far only seen a pair out sunning on a rock. They are omnivores, eating both plants and small invertebrates.
Juvenile Cunningham’s Skink
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Zoom [ISO 320, 500mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000])
This year must have been successful for some breeding pairs, because I have seen at least one juvenile out. I saw it on the same rock that I saw the adult at the top of the post, but a few days later. The species tend to be monogamous, with a male fathering a single litter.
Another skink sunning itself
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Zoom [ISO 500, 500mm, f/8.0 and 1/1250])
This was another one, in a different part of the valley.
In case you are wondering, the species is names after the British explorer and botanist from the early 1800s, Allan Cunningham, who collected the first specimen while he was exploring around the Blue Mountains.
