Schneider's Skink
Eumeces schneiderii
A large skink of the far southeast — Caucasus form treated as subspecies princeps.
Overview
What is Schneider's Skink
Schneider’s skink (Eumeces schneiderii) is a scincid lizard. Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 list it as biologically confirmed: the species occurs in West Asia and North Africa; subspecies E. s. princeps is the Caucasus/Iran form. In Georgia it is found in the extreme southeast. princeps is sometimes treated at species rank as Novoeumeces princeps — the checklist keeps it as a subspecies. The figure is from Vashlovani National Park; barcodes are from Chachuna Managed Reserve. It is harmless to people.
Last updated
Gallery
Schneider's Skink in photos
Photo: Vojtěch Víta · iNaturalist
Photo: Julien Renoult · iNaturalist
Photo: Edouard Veuillet · iNaturalist
Identification
How to identify Schneider's Skink
A large skink with smooth scales. In Georgia only in the far southeast; do not confuse it with Ablepharus.
A large skink with smooth, shiny scales. Limbs fully developed — not reduced. A diurnal skink.
Caucasus form listed as E. s. princeps. Sometimes treated as Novoeumeces princeps; here it remains a subspecies.
Much larger than the snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus), with a visible eyelid ring — not fused eyelids.
Harmless to people. Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 list it as biologically confirmed.
In Georgia only in the far southeast. The figure is from Vashlovani; do not confuse it with tiny Ablepharus.
Quiz
Next: which lizard is it?
Schneider's Skink is in the Georgia lizard quiz. Ten field photos, four names — eye practice, not field ID.
Biology
Habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Schneider's Skink.
Yes. Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026: extreme southeast. The figure is from Vashlovani; barcodes from Chachuna.
Harmless. It has no venom.
The Caucasus/Iran subspecies. Sometimes treated as Novoeumeces princeps; the checklist retains subspecies rank.
Ablepharus is tiny, with fused eyelids (“snake eye”). Eumeces is a large skink with full limbs and a normal eyelid ring.
A large skink with smooth scales. In Georgia only in the far southeast; do not confuse it with Ablepharus.
Small invertebrates; the checklist does not specify diet.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Georgian herpetofauna records cited in Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026
- The Reptile Database
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Related guides
Continue with related pages
Lizard species
Every lizard in the index — Darevskia in its own block. An empty cell is a missing source.
IndexQuizWhich lizard is it?
A photo, four names, instant feedback — Georgia’s lizard catalog. This is not the field guide.
Start the quizIDWhat lizard is this?
Photo, size, colour, range. For Darevskia, colour is not enough.
ID guide
