The family Scincidae, commonly known as skinks, belongs to the order Squamata. Skinks are a diverse group of lizards found worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. They are generally characterized by smooth, shiny scales, elongated bodies, and relatively short limbs, although limb reduction or loss has evolved in several lineages. Most skinks are terrestrial or fossorial, living in leaf litter, under rocks, or burrowing in soil, and they are primarily insectivorous, though some species consume plant matter. Skinks play important ecological roles as both predators of invertebrates and prey for larger animals, and many exhibit fascinating adaptations such as tail autotomy (self-amputation) to escape predators.