| Tribolonotus gracilis | |
|---|---|
| Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink Triblonotus gracilis |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Infraorder: | Scincomorpha |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Tribolonotus |
| Species: | T. gracilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Tribolonotus gracilis De Rooij, 1909 |
|
Tribolonotus gracilis is a species of skink found in New Guinea. They live in tropical forests and have also been found in human-populated areas. They are commonly known as Red-Eyed Crocodile Skinks, or, rarely, Red-Eyed Bush Crocodile Skinks.
Tribolonotus gracilis is one of the few species of lizards that vocalize when in distress. When startled, they tend to freeze and have been known to "play dead" (even when handled).
Red-Eyed Crocodile Skinks can be sexed using the pores on their front feet as only males have these "pores". Females have only a single working ovary (right ovary), laying one egg at a time. The female often curls around the egg. They show tendencies for mother-child family groups . Male crocodile skinks will battle other males for females and females can be territorial as well.