As befitting such a ubiquitous family, the skinks have several species in Europe, although most are confined to the southern parts. Most if not all show the reduced limbs or leglessness so typical of this family. Like many skinks of this size it is a forest dweller, living in leaf litter and preying on small insects and spiders. They normally hibernate from October to April, depending on the climate.
Males normally have longer limbs, but otherwise the sexes are hard to distinguish.
2-4 eggs are laid in a hole in the ground. The colouring is attractive, normally light olive with darker spots. Ocellated Skinks prefer very dry lowland with sandy or loamy ground. Skinks are often more colonial than other lizards, and Ocellated Skinks are often found in large numbers in one place. Normal prey is invertebrates but large specimens occasionally attack smaller lizards.