II. UNIT TWO
SAND-DWELLING ANIMALS
Objective: To help students understand adaptations of sand-dwelling animals in Florida scrub and to explore predator/prey relationships.
The sand skink literally swims through loose sand as it hunts for termites and beetle larvae. Its lower eyelid has a transparent "window" so the sand skink can see even when it closes its eyes to protect them from abrasive sand grains. As the sand skink wriggles along, its tiny, vestigial legs fold into little grooves on the sides of its body. Its wedge-shaped head helps the skink slice through the sand more easily. With no external ear opening, the skink doesn't worry about getting sand in its ears! Because the habitat of this uncommon animal is disappearing, the sand skink is a federally endangered species.