🦎 With its armored body and striking red-orange eye rings, the Red-eyed crocodile skink looks like a creature straight out of fantasy. Despite its fierce appearance, this tiny "dragon" from New Guinea relies on surprising tactics for defense. When threatened, it might go completely stiff and play dead to confuse an attacker, or it may emit a distinct vocal squeak or "bark" to startle predators away.⁠ ⁠ Beyond its unique defenses, this skink showcases another behavior that is rare among reptiles: devoted parental care. Hailing from the lush rainforests, the mother fiercely guards her single precious egg, often staying with it until it hatches. This combination of a mythical appearance and remarkably complex behaviors makes it one of nature’s most enchanting little secrets.⁠ ⁠ _____⁠ ⁠ 📹️ courtesy of: reptiliatus⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #redeyedcrocodileskink #skink #reptile #lizard #dragon #dinosaur #reptiliatus #redeyedcrocskink #gracilis #tribolonotus #science #biology