Rainbow Skink
Afrikaans name: Reenboog Gladde Akkedis

Rainbow Skink
Photo © Steven Herbert
Trachylepis margaritifer
The Rainbow Skink is also sometimes called the Rainbow Rock Skink.
Males have a reddish tail and pale blue spots on their bodies. Females are more striped and have an electric blue tail.
Interestingly the body of males is slightly smaller, but they have longer tails with the result being that they are similar in total length.
They are found around rocks in savanna and bushveld.
The Rainbow Skink feeds on ants, termites and other insects.

Photo © Steven Herbert
References and further reading
Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Rod Patterson and Anothony Bannister - Published: 1987 - Page: 50The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar, WD Haacke and NHG Jacobsen - Published: 1983 - Page: 66
Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southe - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Published: 1991 - Page: 407
Bill Branchs Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Bill Branch - Published: 1988 - Page: 130
A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Graham Alexander and Johan Marais - Published: 2007 - Page: 253