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| At first glance it looks like a snake. |
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Pop Off Its Tail
Last weekend Heather and I wandered around one of our favorite places to hike, Castlewood State Park. On this day we hiked Grotpeter and Lone Wolf Trails. And, we saw a couple of blue tailed skinks. At the time we sighted them, we didn't know what they were. But, we do now, and I suspect we'll see more of them now we know they are there.
Apparently, when this little reptile feels endangered it can pop off its tail. Its tail continues to wiggle drawing the attention of the predator while the little skink makes its escape. I am happy to say, neither of the skinks we saw felt the need to go tail-less.
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Being freaked out by things looking like snakes I think I'd freak a little seeing a skink.
ReplyDeleteFreaky they can pop their tails off too.
Geez, how many times can I use the word freak in a comment? Four apparently.
I have to say, that was a very freaky comment. When I mentioned seeing a skink to my supervisor, she told me when she was at Girl Scout Camp she picked one up by the tail and...yes, she screamed. I suspect she was freaked out, too.
Delete~k
Interesting! I've heard of a "skink" but did not really know what it was. They are pretty clever too!
ReplyDeleteGot to Google and read more!
We thought it was a salamander until we got home and went to Google to learn more. It's what we do today, rather than go to the Encyclopedia.
Delete~k
Cool. Thanks for educating me. I think we have these around the house, but I haven't known what the were. I like the little suckers...until the come into they house. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of critters I like, or at least don't mind, as long as they stay outside. I wouldn't appreciate a skink in the house, although I suspect our cat would be delighted.
Delete~k
What a cool diversion tactic. I am glad we don't have any skinks or critters like these, spiders make me knees wobbly enough.
ReplyDeleteI thought about making a moto connection about their tales being blue. One theory about the tail being blue is to help draw attention of a predator. Sounds like Hi-Vis works in the animal world as well.
Delete~k
Keith,
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I remember reading about this in my guide to reptiles! I know kids these days have TVs built into their seats and all, but for me it was a 25+ hour road trip (one direction) and a father that appreciated silence that first taught me about reptiles. Very very cool. They seem so exotic, like you shouldn't find them so close to, well, anywhere that I've ever been, ever.
Brady
Behind Bars - Motorcycles and Life
www.behindbarsmotorcycle.com
Oh yeah, the long road trip. There definitely were no built in TV's in the 1963 Chevy Biscayne we toured the West in. Lots of reading, coloring, and OMG actually looking at what was going by.
DeleteIt's amazing how the exotic gets swallowed up by the familiar, isn't it? I had a visitor from Australia and she couldn't get over the squirrels. She thought they were the most amazing creatures. This from a woman who has accidentally hit a Kangaroo with her car. I'm sure it won't be long and blue tailed skinks will just be another ho-hum of our hikes...at least until one pops off at me.
~k