Plestiodon callicephalus

North American Mountain Skink
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Plestiodon
Species:	P. callicephalus
Binomial name
Plestiodon callicephalus Bocourt, 1879

The North American Mountain Skink (Plestiodon callicephalus) is a medium-sized member of the Plestiodon skinks, a kind of lizard, living in North America.

Taxonomy

At least one herpetologist has considered the species a subspecies of Plestiodon tetragrammus under the scientific name P. tetragrammus callicephalus, but the more common classification considers it a separate species based on differences in appearance and the distinct geographic distribution.

Description

The Mountain Skink is a medium-sized skink reaching a maximum length from snout to vent of about 7.5 cm (3 inches). Its body is olive to brown in color, with black stripes on the sides. On the head, it features a distinctive, roughly Y-shaped light line pattern, which gave rise to its scientific name: callicephalus is Greek and means "beautiful head".

Like many other Plestiodon, juvenile Mountain Skinks have a bright blue tail. However, contrary to most other species of this genus, adults retain this color, although it does fade a little with age.

Range

The Mountain Skink occurs from southeastern Arizona and extreme southwestern New Mexico southward to Nayarit and Jalisco in Mexico.

In the U.S., the species is very localized. In New Mexico, Mountain Skinks are found only in the southern Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County) of southwest Hidalgo County. It is known only from Geronimo Trail and Guadalupe Canyon, where it is uncommon in its limited habitat. In Arizona, Mountain Skink occurs in the Coronado National Forest. Throughout its range in Mexico, the species seems secure, although many local populations may be jeopardized by habitat loss.

In New Mexico, the species is classified as "critically impaired".

Habitat

The Mountain Skink is found in a wide variety of habitat, ranging from sea level to nearly 2000 m (about 6560 ft). It prefers areas with abundant and well-rotted leaf litter, provinding cover and places for laying eggs.

Plestiodon callicephalus is a terrestrial skink, spending most of its time foraging on the ground, hunting for small invertebrates. It is a good burrower, burrowing its own den.

External links

• BISON fact sheet
• An image