Trachylepis (Mabuya) homalocephala

In South Africa, Red-sided Skinks commonly occur mainly along the southern coast, stretching from Saldanha Bay to Durban, and adjacent hinterland, with a few isolated populations deeper inland in Mpumalanga and the Free State. It lives in areas with sandy soils in a variety of vegetation types, ranging from karroid and fynbos to forest, often near water. In the summer months females may lay up to 10 eggs in nests dug in soft soil below logs and rocks. The eggs hatch after approximately 3 months. Leaving the tail out of the measurement adults are about 7cm long.