Small, sleek and glowing brown, the southern grass skink is a reasonably common inhabitant of the Otago drylands. They are ground-dwelling sun-baskers, and the sight of a fast disappearing flash of brown could be either one of these species or the similar looking and abundant McCanns skink. 

The southern grass skink has a dark tan band down the centre of its back. Along its sides are two prominent cream stripes with a dark brown band between. Its eyes are coloured hazel or light brown, and its underside is usually a dull yellowish brown. It has a blunt nose, and is about 80mm SVL.

It can live in a wide range of habitat types, from shore, dune and wetlands to grass, shrub and tussocklands. It can be found on forest edges, scree and boulder slopes, in exotic forestry and even in suburban gardens. It can use the burrows of invertebrates like worms, spiders and wetas to retreat from predators and to escape the winter cold. 

Southern grass skinks eat small invertebrates such as spiders, insects, molluscs and worms, and they actively pursue their prey. They supplement this with some soft fruit including berries. Maturing at two or three years, they have three to six live young every summer. They are reasonably short-lived, only surviving four to six years.