Merlin Tzaros, aged 13, has had a keen interest in nature, especially reptiles, for several years. He has contributed this weeks' article.

OF all the skinks in the north–east Victorian region, one of the most strikingly patterned is the Ragged Snake–eyed Skink.

This very small and slender lizard is extremely variable, with a body colour ranging from dark browns to pale greys, with tiny metallic creamy white spots and sometimes even gold markings.

These spots on most individuals form two pale lateral stripes, raggedly forming a zig zag pattern, hence their name.

Their scales, too, are tessellated, meaning that the same shape of scale is continued in a pattern.

This creates a layered appearance on the lizard.

Unlike other small skinks that have a moveable lower eyelid, the lower eyelid on this species, and members of its genus, is fused forming a fixed spectacle, giving a staring expression much like that of a snake.

The Ragged Snake–eyed Skink occurs in dry open forests and woodlands, especially where there are numerous large old trees, particularly dead standing trees, abundant coarse woody debris and rock outcrops.

They are a mainly arboreal reptile, meaning they spend the majority of their lives in the trees, typically on the lower parts of large tree trunks and any adjacent fallen branches and logs.

However, they are very versatile, and they are also largely saxicolous, dwelling on rocks such as granite boulders and slabs, preferring more vertical and elevated surfaces than other skinks.

The main distinguishing features of this tiny skink is their small, elegant face and their long, thin digits.

They are very swift to flee when seen and often scuttle away before you even get a chance to observe them.

Their diet consists mainly of spiders and insects being picked from crevices and under logs, and they also sit at ant trails and steal food items being carried by ants to their nests.

They breed in spring or summer, laying one or two flexible shelled eggs in tree cavities.

The Ragged Snake–eyed Skink is diurnal, foraging all throughout the day, and shelters at night in narrow crevices in wood and other confined spaces such as under exfoliating bark.

When seen in their natural environment, they are usually basking in an exposed position, or rapidly moving over fallen timber.

Locally, the Ragged Snake–eyed Skink is quite uncommon, occurring in only a few localities around the Warby Ranges and further west around Mt Meg and the Chesney Vale hills.

They are more common to the north and west, throughout semi–arid parts of New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.