Common name: Günther’s Cylindrical Skink
Scientific name: Chalcides guentheri
Family: Scincidae

Size:
Total length: 20–30 cm

Identification:
A slender, elongated skink with a smooth, glossy body and reduced limbs, giving it a somewhat snake-like appearance. The body is cylindrical with small, barely noticeable legs. Coloration is typically brown, olive, or grey with subtle longitudinal lines or faint striping. The scales are smooth and shiny, aiding movement through soil and leaf litter.

Habitat:
Mediterranean environments including grasslands, scrublands, forest edges, and agricultural areas. Often found under stones, in loose soil, or among leaf litter.

Status in Lebanon:
Native and locally common. Widespread in suitable habitats across the country.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on insects, larvae, small invertebrates, and other soft-bodied prey.

Behavior:
Secretive and mostly fossorial. Spends much of its time hidden under rocks or within soil. Active during warmer periods, especially in spring and early summer. Moves smoothly through vegetation and loose ground. Rarely seen unless disturbed.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)