Snake-eyed skink The snake-eyed skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii) is a small lizard belonging to the skink family, which also includes the ocellated skink. In the Crete region, it has been recorded on Mikronissi near Agios Nikolaos, where the population is classified as the subspecies Ablepharus kitaibelii fabichi.
Its total length can reach approximately 13 centimetres, including the tail. It has a slender, elongated body, small limbs and smooth, glossy scales in shades of brown, with a darker band along its sides. Its eyes are covered by a transparent, fixed covering rather than movable eyelids, giving them their characteristic snake-like appearance.
It lives close to the ground and favours places with low, dense vegetation or leaf litter, where it can move under cover. It feeds on small invertebrates and avoids intense heat. When moving quickly, its undulating movements resemble those of a small snake, but it is a harmless lizard.
The species is widespread in mainland Greece and on many islands. Its occurrence on Mikronissi is a distinctive record for the islets surrounding Crete and should not be confused with confirmed presence on Crete itself.
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