Swimming Sandfish (Scincus Scincus)
A sandfish despite its name is a type of skink (see Super Skinks). They “swim” in the soft sands of the desert and inhabit Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East. Often times, you will see a dart of a lizard and then it will be gone into the sand. This is usually a sandfish.
Sandfish are usually about seven to eight inches long with a tail shorter than the body which is very unusual for lizards. They are mainly yellow/gold colored with black cross-bands and white sides and belly. Sandfish also have short legs and a long, pointy snout. To keep the sand out of its eyes, nose, and lungs, sandfish have very small eyes and nostrils. Because sandfish have such unusual characteristics, they are commonly sold as pets.
Sandfish have some very interesting behaviors. They are insectivorous and eat three to four times a week with 4 crickets per meal. To hunt they emerge from the burrow. They can also hunt by listening to the vibration of insects walking over its burrow. Then the sandfish will attack. Since it is very hot in the desert, sandfish have developed the ability to “swim” through the sand in order to cool down. They also use this method to escape predators like snakes (vipers). Scientists found out only in 2000 that sandfish created less friction than polished steel, glass, or nylon which enables them to swim through the sand so well.
While we visited Dubai, we went on a “desert safari.” On it, we saw a sandfish, so of course we caught it. I was amazed at how fast it could disappear into the sand. Sandfish are very interesting animals and I am glad that we could see, catch, and hold one in the wild.