title: Bougainville's skink
text: # Bougainville's skink
  
  Bougainville's skink (Lerista bougainvillii) is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. This species is also commonly called the south-eastern slider and Bougainville's lerista.
  
  ## Etymology
  
  The specific name, bougainvillii, and the common names, Bougainville's skink and Bougainville's lerista, are in honour of French naval officer Hyacinthe de Bougainville.
  
  ## Geographic range
  
  L. bougainvillii is found in south-eastern Australia, including north-eastern Tasmania and many Bass Strait islands.
  
  ## Description
  
  Bougainville's skink has very reduced limbs and moves in a snake-like manner.
  
  ## Habitat
  
  The preferred natural habitats of L. bougainvillii are forest and shrubland. However, it is seldom seen, as much of its life is spent beneath leaf-litter, loose sand, and thin stone slabs.
  
  ## Reproduction
  
  The mode of reproduction of L. bougainvillii varies. Some populations are oviparous, but other populations are viviparous.
  
  