Skinks comprise one of the largest reptile families. They are found in
climates ranging from rainforest to desert, and tropics to cold temperate.
They live underground, in trees and everywhere in between, and there are
aquatic species. A few species show parental care of eggs or liveborn young.
Some are social, some are solitary. Most are at least somewhat omnivorous.
Most skinks have a coat of hard smooth scales. Leglessness is popular in
skinkdom, having arisen independently many times in the family. Some genera
have legged and legless species. Some species with legs may fold them back
and slither when in a hurry. Some however are good climbers with strong legs.
I don't think there is a good popular book on these lizards, although there
is a fair amount of info around about some of the more popular species.