A tiny predator

[RockOne]

This is a Cream-striped Shinning-skink (Cryptoblepharus virgatus = 'striped hidden-eyelid"). They aren't very big. This one was about 6 cm long. They are quite common, but don't often sit still, and are very quick to escape into crevices in wood. Note in the third photo the presence of a grasshopper. Don't think it was in any danger from the lizard though as it was twice the lizards size :-) !.
Please ignore the sensor dust :-) !!

[RockOne]

Heres the pic with the grasshopper :-)

[cfcRebel]

Great series Steve! Awesome! i like the ambush mode in #3.
Very sharp and nice detail of the lizard.

[pxl8]

Wonderful shots, the really show off the texture of the lizard.

Andy

[RockOne]

Thanks cfc and Andy.

[Dragonslayer]

Interesting looking lizard here I have to say I like the second image the best as the first one shows almost the entire lizard but leaves me wanting to see the tail here, the second is more portrait style and works nicely as posted, the third one the lizard is sharp but the prey isn't I would have liked to see some full body shots also.

[robertwgross]

Is that skink any different from the Western Skink (Eumeces skiltonianus) ?

---Bob Gross---

[RockOne]

Thanks Eric. DIdn't have much choice with regards to the lizards position. They move so qucik and a are so cautious that to even get these pictures was a lucky accident. Had a go today, seen three more, but they seen me too and disappeared rapidly. I'll keep trying for some better shots though :-).

Bob, had to look that one up. The colour pattern appears similar (except for that blue tail in the juveiniles - I've never seen that in one of our skinks), but the Western Skink looks a quite a bit larger and also seems to have a stockier build. There are over 300 species of skink in Australia (the most species rich of our reptile fauna), and over 1300 worldwide. I guess there is a bit of diiferences between the US and Aussie lizards due to their long geographic separation.

[Alan B]

Very nice shots.Very clear :cool:

Love the 2nd one :D

[racketman]

new to this forum and just having a quiet day at work so trolling through old posts - love that 3rd shot. You tell us otherwise but first time viewer would suspect the horned grasshopper is in deep s****
I dont see any sensor dust only noise (high iSO?) but it doesnt spoil the image.

[ssim]

Great shots.

[Dimitri_V]

Heres the pic with the grasshopper :-)


Nice series of shots Steve.

[Ballen Photo]

I like this series of Skink shots, especially the selective focus of the Skink and Grasshopper shot. Nice work. :D
-Bruce

[Bald Eagle]

Truly great shots, very well done, excellent work on these, :D :D :D

[RockOne]

Thanks all.

[marie]

they are great shots Steve

[RockOne]

Thanks marie.