### Identification The Bojer’s Skink is a master of understated elegance. This small, slender lizard typically reaches a total length of 110mm, with a snout-to-vent length of about 50–60mm. Its most striking feature is its metallic, bronzy-brown dorsal coloration, which can appear almost iridescent in direct sunlight. Look for a distinct, dark chocolate-brown lateral stripe that runs from the snout, through the eye, and along the flanks. Unlike the larger, more robust Macchabée Skink, Bojer’s has relatively short, delicate limbs and a long, tapering tail that often displays a subtle blueish tint in juveniles.
### Habitat & Range Once widespread across the mainland of Mauritius, this species is now a "refugee" of the offshore islets. You are most likely to spot them on Round Island, Flat Island, and Ilot Gabriel. They thrive in coastal scrublands and rocky volcanic outcrops, favoring areas with deep leaf litter or tangled vegetation where they can easily vanish from predators.
### Behaviour A diurnal sun-seeker, the Bojer’s Skink is a "scurrier." You’ll often hear them before you see them—a dry rustle in the leaves as they hunt during the hottest parts of the day. They are highly active and alert; if you approach too quickly, they will perform a lightning-fast "shimmer" into a rock crevice. During the breeding season, males become increasingly territorial, engaging in subtle head-bobbing displays to ward off rivals.
### Diet These skinks are opportunistic insectivores. They spend their hours actively foraging for small invertebrates, including ants, spiders, and small beetles. Their sleek heads are perfectly evolved for probing into tight cracks and under decaying wood to flush out hidden prey.
### Fascinating Fact The Bojer’s Skink is a survivor of a "biological war." It was nearly wiped out by the accidental introduction of the Asian Musk Shrew to Mauritius. The skinks only survived because they were stranded on tiny, shrew-free islets, making them a living testament to the critical importance of island restoration and predator-free sanctuaries!