Reptiles Active during the day

African Striped Skink

Trachylepis striata

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The African Striped Skink is a glistening, sun-loving neighbor frequently found patrolling garden walls and rocky outcrops. Known for its bold personality and striking gold-toned stripes, this resilient lizard is a master of the backyard safari.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Total length of 15-25 cm (6-10 inches), with the tail often making up more than half the length; weight typically 20-40 grams.

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Colors

Bronze to dark brown body with two prominent yellowish or cream-colored stripes running from the head to the base of the tail; belly is pale white or light grey.

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Key Features

Two distinct pale longitudinal stripes on a bronze back
Smooth, highly reflective scales
Long, tapering tail
Robust limbs with five toes each

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 9 AM - 4 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily insectivorous; feeds on a variety of small invertebrates including crickets, beetles, flies, spiders, and occasionally smaller lizards.

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Habitat Highly adaptable; found in suburban gardens, savannah, bushveld, rocky outcrops, and often inside or around human dwellings.

Sightings on EverydayEarth

African Animals - Watering Hole · Laikipia North, Laikipia County

Jul 8, 2026

A striped skink crawls across a sunlit rock surface. It moves with purposeful, self-directed motion, pausing briefly to survey its surroundings before continuing along the textured stone.

public Geographic range

Where Does the African Striped Skink Live?

The African Striped Skink is native to the African continent, boasting a massive range that covers much of East and Southern Africa. It is a staple of the landscape from Ethiopia and Kenya in the north down through Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique into the heart of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. This lizard thrives in diverse environments, from sea-level coastal regions to high-altitude inland plateaus, making it one of the most widely distributed skinks in the region.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

10 Countries

5.2M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

ZA South Africa ZW Zimbabwe KE Kenya TZ Tanzania MZ Mozambique NA Namibia BW Botswana Malawi ET Ethiopia ZM Zambia

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 2,000 m

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The African Striped Skink is a bold, diurnal reptile that has adapted remarkably well to human environments. Unlike many skittish lizards, these skinks are often seen basking openly on garden walls, fences, and rock piles. They are active hunters that use their keen eyesight and quick reflexes to snatch up insects. They are also known to be somewhat social for reptiles, often living in loose colonies where several individuals share a particularly prime sunning spot or a crevice in a wall.

These lizards are semi-arboreal, meaning they are just as comfortable climbing trees or walls as they are scurrying across the ground. When threatened, they will dive into the nearest hole or crack. One of their most fascinating survival mechanisms is 'caudal autotomy,' where they can drop their tail if grabbed by a predator. The wriggling tail distracts the attacker while the skink escapes, later regenerating a new, though usually slightly stumpier, tail.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of an African Striped Skink, you need to think like a sun-seeker. These lizards are ectothermic and spend their mornings 'charging' their internal batteries. Place your camera about 15 to 30 centimeters (6-12 inches) off the ground, aimed specifically at a flat, sun-drenched surface like a stone, a brick garden wall, or a wooden log. These are their preferred basking platforms where they will remain stationary for several minutes, providing the best opportunity for a clear shot.

Because skinks are small and move in lightning-fast bursts, camera settings are crucial. Set your AI-powered camera to its highest PIR (Passive Infrared) sensitivity to ensure the sensor triggers when the skink enters the frame. A fast trigger speed is essential; otherwise, you might only catch the tip of a disappearing tail. If your camera allows for it, use a high frame-rate video setting (60fps) to capture the fluid, jerky movements of their hunting style in crisp detail.

While you don't need traditional bait, you can encourage 'starring roles' by creating an environment they love. A small, shallow water dish placed in the sun or a nearby 'bug hotel' that attracts their natural prey will keep them coming back to the same spot. Ensure the camera is positioned with the sun behind it to avoid glare on their reflective, metallic scales, which can sometimes 'blow out' the image and hide their beautiful stripes.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with African Striped Skink.

Rainbow Skink

Often has a more colorful, iridescent tail and may lack the two distinct, sharp longitudinal stripes of the African Striped Skink.

Variable Skink

Highly similar but usually lacks the consistent, well-defined stripes, often appearing more mottled or with broken lines.

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Frequently Asked Questions

African Striped Skinks are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours. They are most visible mid-morning when they bask to warm up, and again in the afternoon as they hunt for insects before the sun sets.

The best way to attract African Striped Skink is to provide habitat. Rock piles, brick walls with small crevices, and plenty of ground cover provide safety. Avoid using pesticides, as these lizards rely on a steady supply of garden insects like crickets and beetles for food.

They are primarily insectivores. Their diet consists of a wide range of small invertebrates, including spiders, grasshoppers, flies, and beetles. They are excellent natural pest controllers for your garden.

Yes, they are highly synanthropic, which means they live well alongside humans. They are one of the most common lizards found in suburban gardens across South Africa and East Africa, often seen on house walls or patios.

Look for the two prominent, pale longitudinal stripes that start above the eyes. Unlike many other skinks, their scales are very smooth and shiny, and they lack the bright blue tails often seen in juvenile lizards of other species.

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