Warm-temperate Water-skink

Fascinating facts about the Warm-temperate Water-skink

• Even though it’s called a “water-skink,” Heatwole’s skink spends most of its day perched on sun-warmed logs and rocks along creek banks, turning the river edge into its personal sunroom. This habit shows how reptiles can blend aquatic and terrestrial life without ever leaving the water’s edge.
• In the wild the species darts between rocky outcrops and swampy margins across New South Wales and Victoria, proving that a single lizard can thrive in both dry forest understories and soggy heathlands. Its flexibility highlights the hidden connectivity of Australia’s temperate ecosystems.
• Yellow-bellied water skink can often be seen near waterways in southeastern Australia, as it prefers habitats where rock and water meet.

At a glance

About the Warm-temperate Water-skink

The warm-temperate water-skink, also known as Heatwole's water skink or yellow-bellied water skink (Eulamprus heatwolei), is found in New South Wales and Victoria. It lives in rocky habitats near water such as bogs, swamps, creek and river margins, and can also be found in dry and wet forests, open woodlands and heathlands, where it is commonly seen basking on waterside logs and rocks.

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