A widely dispersed reptile belonging to the family Scincidae. The family contains approximately 1200 species and is represented on every continent except Antarctica. There are over 150 species of skink in Australia alone. Characteristics include elongate bodies, moderate to long tails, and proportionately short, reduced, or absent limbs. Some scales on the head and body have cores of bone. In many species the eyelids are transparent. Skinks exhibit pleurodont dentition; that is, the teeth are attached on the side of the jaw.