Six-toothed Rainbow-skink (Carlia sexdentata)

About Six-toothed Rainbow-skink (Carlia sexdentata)

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Chordates
• Class: Reptiles
• Order: Lizards and Snakes
• Family: Skinks

Males are mature at about seven to ten years when their shells are 106-115 mm in length. Their spermatogenic activity is highest in autumn to early summer, coinciding with mating which occurs in autumn, late winter and spring. Females usually mature by seven to eight years and have shells 150-155 mm in length. Ovulation occurs from late winter until mid-summer. Three clutches of hard-shelled ellipsoid eggs are laid per season with each clutch containing 4-10 eggs. Recently mature females lay about 12 eggs per season whereas fully grown females may lay 30 eggs per season.

Nest sites are typically located close to the water in open sandy patches. After 69-74 days the turtles begin to hatch from their shells. This can take anywhere from 12-48 hours after the initial cracking of the shell. The newly hatched turtles crawl around for the first 12 hours before venturing into the water and usually do not eat within the first 48 hours.

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)