ID for a Sydney skink

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youcantryreachingme

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Hi all,

I'm wondering whether anyone can positively ID a small skink I picked up in Sydney yesterday? (I don't have access to Ken Griffiths book right now unfortunately... I should have picked up the new edition when I was in the bookshop yesterday. Doh.)

My most likely guess is the common garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti) but the posterior dorsal pattern is quite different to the common garden skinks in my own garden.

Here is the one I can't ID: http://www.wherelightmeetsdark.com/images/DSC_3540.JPG

and here (showing the grey and black flecks on a dark brownish dorsal background): http://www.wherelightmeetsdark.com/images/DSC_3545.JPG

The head colouration, lizard size, lateral eye stripe, and toe count all match the common garden skink, but if you look at my earlier photos of the common garden skink here: http://www.wherelightmeetsdark.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=29

you'll see a greyish background instead of dark brown, and you'll also see a dark central dorsal stripe - both features different from this new critter.

Your insights welcome! (Otherwise it's off the books after Christmas... and have a merry one at that!)

Chris.
 
Thanks for the superfast replies! You're all keen, or mad. I can say that, because I'm online myself on Christmast Eve :/

For what it's worth, on the same rockpile I found 2 other skinks, similar size, which seemed to me to have very wide bodies at the rear legs, in proportion to the tail. Each had a very clearly copper-coloured head. I couldn't catch these guys, so the best photo I have is long-distance, and not so great.

It's at: http://www.wherelightmeetsdark.com/images/DSC_3530.JPG

One (bottom left in image) seems to have the dark banding typical of the garden skink. The other seems to lack it. At the time I felt these two looked markedly different to the one I caught.

Thanks gillsy for the info on the white line. This is clearly shown in the first one I posted. I guess what I'm finding is more variation in colour for the common garden skink than I expected.

These last two on the rockpile were each about 10cm also (guestimate).

Cheers,

Chris.
 
Yes... it's frustrating. I wish I did have better pics to show for it! :) Never mind. Patience, and a bit of money for a longer lens and we'll get there :)
 
The only reason I know what they are is because I help do a reptile survey for NPWS.

And they were one of the main species, we found over 200 specimens, and about 90 eggs.
 
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