Eulamprus quoyii
Silhouette: David Orr · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
Eulamprus quoyii, more commonly known as the eastern water skink, eastern water-skink, or golden water skink, is a viviparous species of diurnal skink. Eulamprus quoyii belongs to the family Scincidae and is considered a common garden animal in Australia. The skink is endemic to Australia and found only along the east coast of the country. It makes its home in creekside habitats along the east coast of Australia and in urban garden areas with high amounts of moisture. The species can be identified by the twin, long yellow stripes that run along its body from the top of the eye, as well as by several more specific character derived states. The pale yellow dorsolateral stripes are most likely where its common name, the golden water skink, is derived. Like other ectotherms, the skink can often be seen basking in the sun on rocky outcroppings in order to regulate its body temperature. Its diet mainly consists of both aquatic and terrestrial insects, tadpoles and small amounts of plant matter. The skink both hunts for food and scavenges when necessary and is considered an opportunistic feeder. It is prey to larger lizards, snakes, cats and birds and so will often be seen moving quickly into hiding when other organisms are present. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Adelaide Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Vivarium Darmstadt | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Water Skink sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 1,991 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 39 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September and November–February
In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Water Skink in Sydney on a given day, against about 10% in May to July, the lowest months.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Water Skink sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Eastern Water Skink sightings, Sydney has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Brisbane (Australia, about 30%).
Same family: Scincidae
The closest relatives of the Eastern Water Skink that you can see in Sydney (family Scincidae, Skinks) are Common Bluetongue (about 30%), Elegant Snake-eyed Skink (about 30%) and Delicate Skink (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Water Skink is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Sydney (1,991 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
