Coal Skink

Coal Skink
Coal Skink
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Plestiodon
Species: P. anthracinus
Binomial name
Plestiodon anthracinus
Baird, 1850


The Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus) is a North-American lizard that grows to 13 to 18 cm (5 - 7 inches) in length with a maximum snout to vent length of 7 cm (2.75 inches). It is a four-lined skink whose light stripes extend onto the tail. The broad dark lateral stripe is 4 - 4.5 scales wide and there are no light lines on top of the head. The dorsolateral light stripe is on the edges of the 3rd and 4th scale rows, counting from midline of back. One postmental scale is present. The sides of the head of the male are reddish during spring breeding season, at least in some parts of the range.

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies of the Coal Skink:

  • Northern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus)
  • Southern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis)

The (Northern) Coal Skink has first been described by Baird in 1850; the southern subspecies P. a. pluvialis was identified by Cope in 1880.

The Southern Coal Skink as a subspecies has posterior supralabials with light centers and dark edges, producing a spotted appearance. There are 26 or more rows of scales around the middle of the body.

Reproduction

The Coal Skink mates in spring or early summer, laying a clutch of 8 or 9 eggs. The young hatch after four to five weeks and are about 5 cm (2 in) long. The hatchlings have a blue tail; those of the Northern Coal Skink are striped like the adults, but young Southern Coal Skinks have black bodies with at the utmost faint traces of stripes.

Habitat and Range

Coal Skink Distribution
Coal Skink Distribution

The more humid portions of wooded hillsides with abundant leaf litter or loose stones are favorite habitats. Coal Skinks' habitat may also include areas around springs and rocky bluffs overlooking creek valleys. If pursued, they will not hesitate to take refuge in shallow water, going to the bottom and hiding under stones or debris.

The Northern Coal Skink (blue in the figure) occurs in western New York and central Pennsylvania and in isolated colonies in the Appalachians. The Southern Coal Skink (orange) can be found on the eastern Gulf coast from the Florida panhandle to Louisiana as well as west of the Mississippi from eastern Kansas and central Missouri to eastern Texas and northern Louisiana. Scattered intermingled occurrences of both species (green in the figure) occur in Alabama and in Georgia.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Plestiodon — Taxobox image width = 240px image caption = Plestiodon fasciatus regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Reptilia ordo = Squamata infraordo = Scincomorpha familia = Scincidae genus = Plestiodon genus authority = subdivision ranks =… …   Wikipedia

  • Eumeces — Taxobox name = Eumeces image caption = Eumeces schneideri regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Reptilia unranked ordo = Sauria ordo = Squamata infraordo = Scincomorpha familia = Scincidae subfamilia = see text genus = Eumeces genus… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Texas reptiles — This is a list of Texas reptiles, including all snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and turtles native to the state of Texas.The state of Texas has a large variety of habitats, from swamps, coastal marshes and pine forests in the east, rocky hills and …   Wikipedia

  • Wildlife of North Carolina — This article seeks to serve as a field guide, central repository, listing, and tour guide for the flora and fauna of North Carolina and surrounding territories.tate ecologyNorth Carolina s geography is usually divided into three biomes: Coastal,… …   Wikipedia

  • Schouten Island — is a 34 km2 island in eastern Tasmania, Australia. It is one kilometre south of the Freycinet Peninsula, at coord|42.3180556|S|148.28|E| and is a part of the Freycinet National Park. There is a lighthouse on the island.HistorySchouten Island lay… …   Wikipedia

  • Appalachian Mountains — Appalachian redirects here. For the region, see Appalachia. Appalachian Mountains Appalachians Range …   Wikipedia

  • South Australia — South Australian. a state in S Australia. 1,285,033; 380,070 sq. mi. (984,380 sq. km). Cap.: Adelaide. * * * State (pop., 2001: 1,514,854), south central Australia. It covers an area of 379,720 sq mi (983,470 sq km), and its capital is Adelaide.… …   Universalium

  • List of patrol vessels of the United States Navy — This is a list of patrol vessels of the United States Navy.PC Patrol Craft Coastal ;By hull number * * * * * * * * * * * * * *;By name * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PHM, PGH, PCH Hydrofoil VesselsPHM Patrol Missile Hydrofoil* USS Pegasus (PHM 1),… …   Wikipedia

  • New Zealand — New Zealander. /zee leuhnd/ a country in the S Pacific, SE of Australia, consisting of North Island, South Island, and adjacent small islands: a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 3,587,275; 103,416 sq. mi. (267,845 sq. km). Cap.: Wellington …   Universalium

  • Henry W. Coe State Park — IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) Location Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties, California, USA Nearest …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”