The Italian three-toed skink (Chalcides chalcides), is a small lizard belonging to the family of Scincidae, widespread in the countries of the Mediterranean Sea, and in the present Province of Salerno where it is frequently sighted at the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano. It’s typical habitat is represented by grassy areas and wetlands of the Mediterranean. When this lizard is slipping zigzag between rocks and herbs, this animal could be mistaken for a snake. In reality it is a relative of lizards belonging to the suborder of Sauri.
The main feature of this species is that it has tiny feets with three little toas. The body gets up to 40 cm long it is glossy and has a color that can range from olive green to gray or brown, with black streaks.
It lives in grassy areas which are exposed to the sun.
It is very sensitive to cold, and it spends the winters in holes in the ground or repaired cracks between rocks, from here they will come out in late spring. For this same reason, it is quite rare in the mountain areas.
It feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates. Unlike most other Sauri it does not lay eggs but give birth to already almost grown up lizards up to twenty-three lizards can be born at once.
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Notes
Caputo, V. Taxonomy and evolution of the Chalcides chalcides complex (Reptilia), 1993