IDENTIFICATION  

It is a small saurian with a serpentine aspect. The body is very stylized, elongated (up to 16 cm of total head to tail length) with small extremities, hardly noticeable in movement. Each pair of legs is quite separate, and has five fingers in each. The head barely differs from the body, has a triangular look and a blunt snout. The skin is smooth and shiny, covered with small scales superimposed on each other. The general colour pattern is greyish or brownish-olive, with small rounded spots (with an eye shape) in the posterior dorsal part. The tail is short and ends in a tip.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE (HABITAT)? 

It is a species with thermal habits. It prefers sunny places and loose sandy soils, with abundant low scrubs and rocks. It is typical of degraded Mediterranean forest areas, mountain areas with little tree or shrub cover, and coastal areas with relatively well-preserved autochthonous vegetation, such as dunes.

HOW DOES IT LIVE?

The Iberian bedriaga's skink is a discrete species which usually takes refuge under rocks or trunks. Although its legs are not very visible, their movements are fast. It usually sticks them to the body and zig-zags through the litter, stones or sand. It uses a base of scrub, rock walls and other refuge areas to sunbathe. It feeds on small invertebrates: mainly beetles, spiders and centipedes. It is able to detach and regenerate its tail when threatened. The new tail is usually smaller.

HOW DOES IT REPRODUCE?

It is a vivipary species. The mating period lasts from March to June and deliveries are from May to September. The female usually calves between 1 and 6 live and autonomous pups. Small skinks are darker than adults and have a black lateral band on the flanks. Bigger females are able to give birth to more offspring.

WHERE CAN WE SEE IT IN MÁLAGA AND ON THE STAGES OF THE GREAT PATH (GRAN SENDA)?

It is a difficult species to observe due to its discreet habits. In the Malaga province the Iberian Bedriaga's skink is not widespread; although where it is present, it is frequent. It has dispersed populations in the coastal mountains and southern province. It is probably widespread in the inland mountains, although there is still no reliable data about it. In the Great Path (Gran Senda), we can observe it on stages 13 to 25.

LEVEL OF PROTECTION - THREAT (INVENTORY)

This snake is part of the Andalusian Wildlife Species under Special Protection List. It is an Iberian endemic species with locally abundant populations, even though they are isolated from each other. Much information is unknown about its distribution, population dynamics and real population density. Its main threat is the destruction of its habitat, especially on the coastal strip. Forest fires creating areas with less vegetation, can in the medium term, help skink populations.

CURIOUS FACTS  

A popular saying states that "if the smooth saw and the viper heard, there would be no men going out to the countryside." The "smooth" is one of the vernacular names of the skinks. Although sayings are usually quite right, in this case, it is far from reality. Skinks are not poisonous and actually completely harmless. Moreover, as any saurian, it can see perfectly.

SIMILAR SPECIES (IT CAN BE MISTAKEN WITH...) 

It can be mistaken with the tridactyl skink. The Iberian bedriaga's skink has five fingers on each extremity (whereas the tridactyl skink has three). Its legs are more developed than the trydactyl's, besides being smaller than the trydactyl which resembles much more of a snake. Habitats are also different. The tridactyl is associated to humid meadows and the Iberian to more arid environments.