Carinascincus is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae), commonly called snow skinks[1] or cool-skinks[2] and residing mainly in Tasmania or Victoria, Australia.

[3] Then recognised as the genus Niveoscincus, it was found to belong to a clade with the genera Carlia, Lampropholis and others of the Eugongylus group within Lygosominae.

[4] Cogger has rejected the use of the junior name Niveoscincus and recognizes the valid senior generic name Carinascincus for the group.

[5] For similar skinks see genera Pseudemoia, Lampropholis, and Bassiana.

These skinks have adapted to the cooler weather of southern Australia and particularly Tasmania, hence the common names.