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Abbreviation Legend

  • (CE) - Criticially Endangered
  • (CI) - Critically Imperiled
  • (E) - Endangered
  • (I) - Introduced
  • (IM) - Imperiled
  • (NT) - Near Threatened
  • (T) - Threatened
  • (V) - Vulnerable
  • (**) - Recent Classification Change
Home »» Lizards »» Scincidae (Skinks)

Skinks (Scincidae) of the United States


Scincidae, or skink, has a long cylindrical body and tail covered with smooth sleek scales containing bony plates (osteoderms). Terrestrial skinks have small legs, those adapted for burrowing have tiny legs or none. A clear window in the lower eyelid of the burrowing forms enables the animal to see when the eyelid is closed to keep out dirt. Fracture planes in the tails of many species allow the tail to break off easily when grasped by a predator. In such cases usually the tail is vividly colored to draw the attack of the predator away from the vulnerable body. Skinks are diurnal. Most are insect eaters, but a few giant species are herbivorous. All species have thick oval tongues with a shallow notch at the tip. Most will nip the hand that catches them, and large species can inflict a painful bite. All North American species are egg layers. Females may tend the eggs during incubation.

There 24 species, representing 10 genus, found in the United States, with 14 species being native and 10 species are Introduced.



(I)

Ocellated Bronze Skink
(Chalcides occelatus)
(I)

Mottled Snake-Eyed Skink
(Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus)
(I)

Copper-Tailed Skink
(Emoia cyanura)
(I)

Azure-Tailed Skink
(Emoia impar)
(I)

Common Sun Skink
(Eutropis multifasciata)
(I)

Delicate Garden Skink
(Lampropholis delicata)
(I)

Moth Skink
(Ornithuriscincus noctua)

Coal Skink
(Plestiodon anthracinus)

Mountain Skink
(Plestiodon callicephalus)

Mole Skink
(Plestiodon egregius)

Common Five-Lined Skink
(Plestiodon fasciatus)

Gilbert's Skink
(Plestiodon gilberti)

Southeastern Five-Lined Skink
(Plestiodon inexpectatus)

Broad-Headed Skink
(Plestiodon laticeps)

Many-Lined Skink
(Plestiodon multivirgatus)

Great Plains Skink
(Plestiodon obsoletus)
(V)

Florida Sand Skink
(Plestiodon reynoldsi)

Prairie Skink
(Plestiodon septentrionalis)

Western Skink
(Plestiodon skiltonianus)

Four-Lined Skink
(Plestiodon tetragrammus)

Little Brown Skink
(Scincella lateralis)
(I)

Giant Bluetongue Skink
(Tiliqua gigas)
(I)

Common Blue-Tongued Skink
(Tiliqua scincoides)
(I)

African Five-Lined Skink
(Trachylepis quinquetaeniata)
 

 

 

 

Recommended Books at Amazon.com


Handbook of Lizards: Lizards of the United States and of Canada     Lizards of the World: A Guide to Every Family     Texas Lizards: A Field Guide     National Geographic Readers: Lizards



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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
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