Can you sex a fire skink just by the color and pattern? When I was researching fire skinks, I've read that male and females color patterns are similar, just that males are larger with broader heads and more aggressive.
I just acquired a book titled "Insect-Eating Lizards" published by T.F.H. On page 92 it has 2 pictures of fire skinks, it reads the top photo is a male fire skink and the bottom photo is a female fire skink. I am very confused because the photo of the female has no stripe pattern on the sides and colors are duller - does not look like a fire skink. If the difference between the 2 sexes were so dramatic wouldn't it be really easy to tell the sexes apart? Other then looking for a larger, aggressive skink with a broader head.
On another note, the photo of the "female" fire skink actually looks like an African red-sided skink.
I guess my question is, are female fire skinks dull with no pattern like the book shows or is it that different skink all together?
