Elegant SliderScientific name: Lerista elegans
Meaning of name: The meaning of Lerista is not known. Elegans is Latin for neat.
Distribution: Along the west coast of Western Australia from Shark Bay to Augusta.
Description: A small (9cm) skink with 4 fingers and toes. Body colour olive-brown to grey. There is a dark brown stripe running from the side of the head that continues along the body before fading out on the tail. This is bordered below by a white stripe. The tail usually has a red or orange tinge.
The scales between the nostrils are in contact with each other in this species (see the last photograph below). The nasal scales are usually separated in the similar-looking species Lerista distinguenda, South-western Orange-tailed Slider.
Notes: Shelters beneath leaf litter, logs and rocks.
References: Field Guide to the Reptiles and Frogs of the Perth Region. Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, Robert Browne-Cooper, David Robinson. 2010
Lizards of Western Australia I Skinks. GM Storr, LA Smith, RE Johnstone. 1999
The nasal scales touching each other is a distinguishing character of this species.
