Lizard Identification: Skink vs. Gecko
What is the difference between a skink and a gecko?
Skinks are slender with sleek bodies, narrow heads, no neck and small eyes (like little snakes with legs!). Geckos are broader and have loose velvety skin, that they shed in large pieces, or even in one big piece. Skinks have tight shiny skin with scales, like fish scales. They shed their skin in small pieces. Geckos don’t have eyelids but instead have a transparent scale covering their eye. They lick their eyeballs to keep them clean! Skinks have eyelids and blink to clean their eyes.
Try this interactive Venn diagram ACTIVITY comparing gecko and skink traits (from Science Learning Hub)! Watch these videos below to help:
If you are interested in learning more about the incredible lizards of the world, including the HUGE komodo dragon that is as long as a car, or lizards that can walk on water, or glide through the air, watch this fascinating video read aloud: