Nicknamed "Lance" after the island his ancestors hail from, one of Perth Zoo's favourite bachelors has been enjoying retirement from public life in recent years and is quietly celebrating a huge milestone birthday.
Most Lancelin Island skinks live to be up to eight years old in the wild but Lance, who was hatched at the zoo, is marking what is believed to be a record 18th birthday.
Another skink at the zoo lived to be 14 years old, but Lance has easily surpassed his old reptile buddy.
Lancelin Island skinks are endemic to a small island off the lower mid-west coast of Western Australia.
Perth Zoo senior keeper Matt Ricci said a breeding program began because there were concerns about the vulnerable species only having one island to live on.
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"They could be prone to problems if they get a disease outbreak on the island," he told AAP.
The first Lancelin Island skinks were brought to Perth Zoo in 1995 and breeding continued until 2000.
Between 2002 and 2004, 165 skinks - including 152 bred at the zoo - were released onto Favourite Island, near Jurien Bay, which was deemed a suitable habitat free of cats and rats.
Lance, who has never been given a formal name and was not involved in breeding offspring at the zoo, has been off display for the past five years.
Despite his age, he has never had any health issues and has a diet that includes termites, crickets, cockroaches and silkworms.
Mr Ricci said there was still little research done on Lancelin Island skinks, which have small bodies and long tails.
"People walk past and don't even notice them," he said
