keeled skink

reptile

Also known as: Tropidophorus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "keeled skink" can refer to two distinct types of reptiles.

One is a genus of semiaquatic lizards, Tropidophorus, found from Southeast Asia to northern Australia. These are part of the larger skink family (Scincidae), which includes over 1,200 species of lizards known for their secretive, ground-dwelling, or burrowing habits. Skinks typically have cylindrical bodies, cone-shaped heads, and long tails. Their diets consist mainly of insects and invertebrates, though larger species may eat fruits.1

The other is a venomous Australian elapid snake, Tropidechis carinatus, characterized by its strongly keeled scales.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

skink
Keeled skinks (Tropidophorus), which are semiaquatic, are found from Southeast Asia to northern Australia. Mabuyas (Mabuya), with about 105 species, are ground dwellers and are distributed worldwide in the tropics. Sand skinks (Scincus), also called sandfish, run across and “swim” through windblown sand aided by…
Read More
Keeled skinks (Tropidophorus), which are semiaquatic, are found from Southeast Asia to northern Australia. Mabuyas (Mabuya), with about 105 species, are ground dwellers and are distributed worldwide in the tropics. Sand skinks (Scincus), also called sandfish, run across and “swim” through windblown sand aided by…
Read More