Common name: Bridled Skink
Scientific name: Heremites vittatus
Family: Scincidae

Size:
SVL: 6–9 cm
Total length: 15–22 cm

Identification:
A medium-sized skink with a smooth, glossy body and well-developed limbs. It is easily recognized by the pale cream or yellow stripe running along each side of the body, bordered by darker brown bands, giving the appearance of a "bridle." The back is bronze to olive-brown, and the long tail may exceed the body length. Like other skinks, it has smooth overlapping scales that give it a polished appearance.

Habitat:
Rocky hillsides, open woodlands, scrublands, agricultural terraces, gardens, stone walls, and forest edges. It prefers areas with loose soil, abundant rocks, and leaf litter for shelter.

Status in Lebanon:
Native and locally common throughout suitable habitats from low elevations to mountain regions.

Diet:
Insectivorous — feeds on beetles, ants, spiders, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other small invertebrates.

Behavior:
A diurnal and active forager, often seen basking on rocks before searching for food among leaf litter and under stones. When threatened, it quickly retreats into rock crevices or dense vegetation. Like many skinks, it can shed its tail to escape predators.

Conservation Status:
Least Concern (LC)