Crocodile Skinks are known under a variety of different common names. These include the New Guinea Crocodile Skink, the Red or Orange Eyed Crocodile Skink, Painted or Bush Crocodile, Helmeted Skink and Muddy Eyed Crocodile Skink.

There are eight recognized species in the genus Tribolonotus, whose range extends from Indonesia eastwards via New Britain to the Solomon Islands in the Pacific.

T. annectens (New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago)

T. blanchardi (Solomon Islands) 

T. brongersmai (Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago)

T. gracilis (Papua New Guinea, Admiralty Islands)

T. novaeguineae (Irian-Jaya)

T. ponceleti (Solomon Islands)   

T. pseudoponceleti (Solomon Islands)

T. schmidti (Solomon Islands)

The habitat on these islands is variable, ranging in part from lush tropical rain forest to arid savannah and snow-capped mountains, but Crocodile Skinks have specific environmental requirements which restricts their distribution. There is no significant temperature variation on these islands through the year, as a result of their tropical locality, but the annual rainfall is high, and this is the period when these skinks will typically breed.

The forest where these skinks live is moist, with the relative humidity in this environment being in excess of 70% throughout the year.  They favour damp areas of ground, close to sources of fresh water. They are terrestrial, hiding in areas where leaf litter has accumulated over branches and shrubs, providing them not just with hiding places but also areas where they can hunt for their insect prey.  Interestingly, crocodile skinks seem to be adapting quite well to habitat changes, with herpetologists reporting the discovery of T. gracilis in increasing numbers around coconut plantations, with the skinks having adopted husk piles as retreats in this environment.  This could mark the start of a population explosion for these little skinks. Only time will tell..