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Sandfish Skink — printable fact sheet
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Sandfish Skink
Scincus scincus
The Sandfish Skink is a small, burrowing lizard native to the sandy deserts of North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Famous for its unique ability to 'swim' through loose sand, this reptile has a streamlined body and smooth, shiny scales that reduce friction. Its limbs are …
Did you know?
- Despite its name, the sandfish skink is not related to fish at all—its name comes from its remarkable swimming-like movement through sand.
- The sandfish skink can move through sand at speeds up to 15 cm per second, almost as if it were swimming through water. Its eyelids are transparent, allowing it to see while protecting its eyes from sand grains. This skink's scales have a special composition that prevents sand from sticking to its body.
What I learned
Draw the sandfish skink
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