The lizard-like ocellated skink (xaħmet l-art) is known by the scientific community as Chalcides ocellatus and is the only skink which is naturally found on our islands.
We usually meet this shy reptile in the countryside, where it is found hiding in the crevices of rubble walls, under stones or other such rocky places.
The ocellated skink is highly adapt at living in hot climates like ours. Its elongated cylindrical body, reaching a length of 30cm, is covered in smooth shiny scales and is generally olive-brown to brown in colour, with rows of white and dark brown spots resembling eyes.
The skink has a rather small head supported on a fairly thick neck, very short feet with well-developed toes and a thin tail. It crawls on its belly and its rather swift movement resembles more that of a snake than of a lizard. The skink has a varied diet, which ranges from snails, isopods, spiders, ants and beetles, to small lizards and even vegetation.
Although some people dislike or are afraid of skinks because of the mistaken belief that these creatures are harmful as they carry diseases, these reptiles still form part of our Maltese heritage and need to be safeguarded.
The ocellated skink, like all Maltese reptiles, has been protected under local legislation since 1992 and one should not pursue, take, kill or keep these rather peculiar reptiles.
This little reptile is also considered to be of importance at European level. According to a study compiled by Mepa the ocellated skink has a favourable conservation status which means that although threatened, this species in Malta is capable of maintaining itself on a long-term basis.
More information may be obtained by e-mail: nature.requests@mepa.org.mt.
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Malta, together with many other countries around the globe, is carrying out a number of initiatives to celebrate life on earth and the value of biodiversity for our lives. We are all invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: Biodiversity.