For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Giant Legless Skink (Acontias plumbeus) family Scincidae

 
This is the largest of the legless skinks we have.
 Due to all the rain we have had, so many of the areas are clogged with rain and these creatures which live underground and are seldom seen, are now coming out to the surface.
 This Gaint Legless Skink is about 16-18 inches (45cm) in length and extremely thick around the middle. They mostly eat things like mealworms, crickets and even frogs.
 Being a skink, it is completely harmless to anyone. They bear live young and can have up to 14 at a time.
Thanks Johan Marias for the identification.