A Striped Skink

I expected to see many more reptiles in Africa. I thought there would be snakes and reptiles with four legs on tree trunks and crossing roads. I’ve seen no such thing. A rare exception is this African striped skink, Trachylepis striata.

There are over 1,500 species of Skink and almost all of them have no neck and short legs.

The question then remains: am I a Skink?

African Striped Skink - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the)

More adventures on safari in Kenya

Zebra - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) A fluffy young Zebra Seeing Zebras at a watering hole in the Masai Mara is a pleasure. It's dry work munching the parched vegetation… read more
Southern Ground Hornbill - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Southern Ground Hornbills There's a massive bird as big as a Turkey wandering through the close-cropped grass. It has a strange-shaped bill, a… read more
Common Drongo - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Common Drongos Today's another chance for me to appreciate Common Drongos. They have distinctive forked tails and intense red eyes set in… read more
Lilac-Breasted Rollers - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Lilac-Breasted Roller attack Sometimes there's such an extraordinary moment and it seems impossible that you could have captured it. There's a dispute between… read more
Grey-Crowned Crane - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Grey Crowned Crane It's one metre tall and has a two metre wingspan. It has a ridiculous crown. It has an inflatable red… read more
Common Warthog - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Can you kneel on your wrists? Common Warthogs are fabulous creatures. Just look at that hairy face! I love this one's blonde moustache and perky tail.… read more
Batleur Eagle - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) The street performer – a Bateleur Eagle with a rat We spotted a Bateleur Eagle as soon as we arrived in the Masai Mara. It was distant. All I could… read more
Black-Headed Heron - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Black-Headed Heron There's a Black-Headed Heron with what looks like a snake. I know they eat fish and amphibians, but I didn't… read more
Pied Kingfisher - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) A male Pied Kingfisher There's a perched male Pied Kingfisher on a branch nearby here in the Masai Mara. They are large, impressive birds.… read more
Cattle Egret - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Cattle Egret portrait I've seen Cattle Egrets in Devon, but never been as close as I am now to this Cattle Egret in… read more
Lion - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Playful Lion There's nothing more fulfilling in wildlife photography than having an animal be completely relaxed in your presence. Seeing a lion… read more
Cattle Egret - The Hall of Einar - photograph © David Bailey (not the) Elephant and Egret This is a Cattle Egret Someone needs to tell it that. Because this is an Elephant. read more

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