{"elementGlobalId":100793,"circumscripConfidence":{"id":1,"circumscripConfidenceDescEn":"1 - Strong","circumscripConfidenceDescEs":"1 - Fuerte","circumscripConfidenceDescFr":"1 – Forte"},"classificationLevel":{"id":7,"classificationLevelNameEn":"Species","classificationLevelNameEs":"Especies","classificationLevelNameFr":"Espèce"},"classificationStatus":{"id":1,"classificationStatusDescEn":"Standard","classificationStatusDescEs":"Estándar","classificationStatusDescFr":"Standard"},"iucn":{"id":11,"iucnDescEn":"Least concern","iucnDescEs":"Menos preocupante","iucnDescFr":"Moins préoccupante","iucnCode":"LC"},"nameCategory":{"id":1,"nameCategoryDescEn":"Vertebrate Animal","nameCategoryDescEs":"Animal vertebrado","nameCategoryDescFr":"Animal vertébré","nameTypeCd":"A","nameTypeDesc":"Zoological"},"rankMethodUsed":null,"formattedScientificName":"<i>Plestiodon skiltonianus</i>","scientificName":"Plestiodon skiltonianus","scientificNameAuthor":"Baird and Girard, 1852","primaryCommonName":"Western Skink","relatedItisNames":"<i>Eumeces skiltonianus</i> (Baird and Girard, 1852) (TSN 173970)","uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100793","elcode":"ARACH01110","conceptRefFullCitation":"Brandley, M. C., H. Ota, T. Hikida, A.Nieto, M. De Oca, M. Feria-Ortiz, X. Guo, and Y. Wang. 2012. The phylogenetic systematics of blue-tailed skinks (<i>Plestiodon</i>) and the family Scincidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 165(1):163-189.","conceptName":"<i>Plestiodon skiltonianus</i>","taxonomicComments":"Formerly in the genus <i>Eumeces</i>. Smith (2005) and Brandley et al. (2005) formally proposed that all North American species (north of Mexico) be placed in the genus <i>Plestiodon</i>.","roundedGRank":"G5","conservationStatusFactorsEditionDate":"2005-08-26","conservationStatusFactorsEditionAuthors":"Hammerson, G.","primaryCommonNameLanguage":"EN","recordType":"SPECIES","elementNationals":[{"elementNationalId":166922,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":225,"nameEn":"United States","nameEs":"Estados Unidos","nameFr":"États-Unis","isoCode":"US","region":"United 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1,000,000 individuals","popSizeDescEs":"De 10.000 a 1.000.000 de individuos","popSizeDescFr":"De 10 000 à 1 000 000 individus"},"rangeExtent":{"id":33,"rangeExtentDescEn":"200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)","rangeExtentDescEs":"200.000 a 2.500.000 kilómetros cuadrados (aproximadamente 80.000 a 1.000.000 millas cuadradas)","rangeExtentDescFr":"De 200 000 à 2 500 000 km carrés (de 80 000 à 1 000 000 miles carrés approximativement)"},"shortTermTrend":{"id":40,"shortTermTrendDescEn":"Relatively Stable (<=10% change)","shortTermTrendDescEs":"Relativamente estable (variación = <10%)","shortTermTrendDescFr":"Relativement stable (variation = <10 %)"},"threatImpactAssigned":{"id":10,"threatImpactAssignedDescEn":"Low","threatImpactAssignedDescEs":"Bajo","threatImpactAssignedDescFr":"Faible"},"rangeExtentComments":"The range extends from south-central British Columbia to northwestern Baja California, from the Pacific coast to western Montana, Idaho, eastern Utah, and north-central Arizona, including various islands off the west coast of California and Baja California (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). Elevational range is from sea level (California) to about 2,530 meters (8,300 feet) (southern Utah, southern Nevada, northern Arizona) (Tanner 1988, Stebbins 2003).","areaOfOccupancy":null,"areaOfOccupancyComments":null,"numberEosComments":"This species is represented by a arge number of occurrences or subpopulations. For example, Tanner (1988) mapped nearly 200 collection sites rangewide. Nussbaum et al. (1983) mapped even more localities than did Tanner for the Pacific Northwest portion of the range. The secretive habits of this skink suggest that it occurs in many more localities than have been so far documented.","popSizeComments":"Total adult population size is unknown but surely exceeds 10,000 and probably exceeds 100,000. The species is locally common in many areas. Like most skinks, it is secretive and much more numerous than visual observations would suggest.","viabilityComments":null,"threatImpactComments":"No major threats have been identified. Reductions from habitat loss appear to be minimal.","shortTermTrendComments":"Trends are undocumented, but extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size are large and probably relatively stable.","longTermTrendComments":null,"inventoryNeeds":null,"numberProtEosComments":"This lizard occurs in many national parks and other protected areas.","protectionNeeds":null,"otherConsiderations":null,"intrinsicVulnerabilityComments":null,"enviromentalSpecificityComments":null},"animalCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":100793,"majorHabitat":{"id":3,"majorHabitatDescEn":"Terrestrial","majorHabitatDescEs":"Terrestre","majorHabitatDescFr":"Terrestre"},"nonMigrant":true,"localMigrant":false,"longDistanceMigrant":false,"mobilityMigrationComments":null,"foodHabitsComments":"Feeds on a wide variety of insects (crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, flies, etc), spiders and earthworms.","animalPhenologyComments":"Inactive in cold winter weather; duration of inactive period varies with local climate.","colonialBreeder":false,"length":24,"width":null,"weight":null,"animalPhenologies":[{"animalCagPhenologyId":101049,"animalPhenology":{"id":1,"animalPhenologyDescEn":"Hibernates/aestivates","animalPhenologyDescEs":"Hibernación/Estivación","animalPhenologyDescFr":"Hiberne/estive","displayOrder":1},"adult":true,"immature":true},{"animalCagPhenologyId":101050,"animalPhenology":{"id":3,"animalPhenologyDescEn":"Diurnal","animalPhenologyDescEs":"Diurno","animalPhenologyDescFr":"Diurne","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}],"animalFoodHabits":[{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":102036,"foodHabits":{"id":3,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Invertivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Invertívoro","foodHabitsDescFr":"Invertivore","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}]},"occurrenceDelineations":[{"eoSpecsDetailId":1197,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"eoSpecGroupName":"Skinks","subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":0.2,"inferredExtentNotes":null,"minimumEoCriteria":"Occurrences are based on evidence of historical presence, or current and likely recurring presence, at a given location. Such evidence minimally includes collection or reliable observation and documentation of one or more individuals (including eggs) in or near appropriate habitat where the species is presumed to be established and  breeding.","mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":"Busy highway or highway with obstructions such that lizards rarely if ever cross successfully; major river, lake, pond, or deep marsh; densely urbanized area dominated by buildings and pavement (but note that suburban areas are suitable habitat for some skinks).","separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":1.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":5.0,"altSeparationProcedure":null,"separationJustification":"Individual skinks generaly have small home ranges. In Kansas, home range diameter of Eumeces fasciatus was approximately 27 m in males, 9 m in females; individuals sometimes shifted home range after hibernation (Fitch 1954). <br><br>Fitch (1955) found that Eumeces obsoletus generally is rather sedentary in the short term; most live in home ranges not more than 30 m in diameter. Adult males are more mobile than females and juveniles. Sometimes individuals make longer movements of 100 m or more. Home range location is rather fluid. Individuals often live in one area for awhile, then shift to another area.  Hall (1971) reported a maximum home range size of about 800 sq m. <br><br>According to Ashton and Ashton (1991), home range size of Scincella lateralis may be less than 20 sq m. <br><br>The separation distance for unsuitable habitat reflects the nominal minimum value of 1 km. The separation distance for suitable habitat attempts to reflect the limited home ranges of these lizards, their secretive habits and consequent apparent absence in areas where they do in fact occur, their tendency to occur throughout patches of suitable habitat, and the likely low probability that two locations separated by less than several kilometers of suitable habitat would represent truly independent populations.","versionDate":"2004-09-21","versionAuthor":"Hammerson, G.","versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-04-30T02:04:13.034802Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":100793,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":null,"impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":null,"additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[{"eoRankSpecsDetailId":102359,"eoRankSpecsGroupName":null,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"excellentViability":null,"goodViability":null,"fairViability":null,"poorViability":null,"viabilityJustification":"Use the Generic Guidelines for the Application of Occurrence Ranks (2008).<br>The Key for Ranking Species Occurrences Using the Generic Approach provides a step-wise process for implementing this method.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-05-14T02:17:15.940628Z"}],"references":[{"id":137372,"citation":"Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Behler and King","shortCitationYear":1979,"referenceCode":"B79BEH01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:24.173666Z"},{"id":468630,"citation":"Brandley, M. C., A. Schmitz, and T. W. Reeder. 2005. Partitioned Bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of scincid lizards. Systematic Biology 54:373-390.","shortCitationAuthor":"Brandley et al.","shortCitationYear":2005,"referenceCode":"A05BRA01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:58.69455Z"},{"id":1066884,"citation":"Brandley, M. C., H. Ota, T. Hikida, A.Nieto, M. De Oca, M. Feria-Ortiz, X. Guo, and Y. Wang. 2012. The phylogenetic systematics of blue-tailed skinks (<i>Plestiodon</i>) and the family Scincidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 165(1):163-189.","shortCitationAuthor":"Brandley et al.","shortCitationYear":2012,"referenceCode":"A12BRA02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-11-11T02:01:37.636393Z"},{"id":137880,"citation":"Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Collins","shortCitationYear":1990,"referenceCode":"B90COL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:15.579798Z"},{"id":645334,"citation":"Collins, J. T., and T. W. Taggart. 2009. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians. Sixth edition. The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrance, Kansas. iv + 44 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Collins and Taggart","shortCitationYear":2009,"referenceCode":"B09COL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:58.69455Z"},{"id":621810,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2008,"referenceCode":"B08CRO01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:20.142383Z"},{"id":722484,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2012,"referenceCode":"B12CRO01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.08501Z"},{"id":943912,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2017,"referenceCode":"B17CRO01EHUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:53.413199Z"},{"id":468620,"citation":"Griffith, H., A. Ngo, and R. W. Murphy. 2000. A cladistic evaluation of the cosmopolitan genus <i>Eumeces</i> Wiegmann (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae). Russian Journal of Herpetology 7(1):1-16.","shortCitationAuthor":"Griffith et al.","shortCitationYear":2000,"referenceCode":"A00GRI01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:58.69455Z"},{"id":463781,"citation":"Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California including its Pacific islands and islands in the Sea of Cortes.  University of California Press, Berkeley. xiii + 399 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Grismer","shortCitationYear":2002,"referenceCode":"B02GRI01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.08501Z"},{"id":1153425,"citation":"Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx","shortCitationAuthor":"Nicholson","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"B25NIC01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:36:32.018241Z"},{"id":129828,"citation":"Nussbaum, R.A., E.D. Brodie, Jr., and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University Press of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. 332 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Nussbaum et al.","shortCitationYear":1983,"referenceCode":"B83NUS01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:10.866443Z"},{"id":157286,"citation":"Richmond, J. Q., and T. W. Reeder. 2002. Evidence for parallel ecological speciation in scincid lizards of the <i>Eumeces skiltonianus</i> species group (Squamata: Scincidae). Evolution 56:1498-1513.","shortCitationAuthor":"Richmond and Reeder","shortCitationYear":2002,"referenceCode":"A02RIC02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:13:48.274121Z"},{"id":468621,"citation":"Smith, H. 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Great Basin Naturalist 17(3-4):59-94.","shortCitationAuthor":"Tanner","shortCitationYear":1957,"referenceCode":"A57TAN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:13:48.274121Z"},{"id":130536,"citation":"Tanner, W. W. 1988. <i>Eumeces skiltonianus</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 447:1-4.","shortCitationAuthor":"Tanner","shortCitationYear":1988,"referenceCode":"A88TAN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:13:48.274121Z"},{"id":1116516,"citation":"Washington Herp Atlas. 2009 (map products updated March 2017). A cooperative effort of Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S.D.I. 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Increased survey efforts within the past 10 years have resulted in the discovery of the species at new localities within the known range. Nevertheless, the range remains small and human activities and land use practices continue to threaten skink habitats.<br/><br/>Status History: Designated Special Concern in May 2002. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2014.","usesaDate":null,"interpretedUsesa":null,"usesaComments":null,"completeDistribution":true,"synonyms":[{"id":113822,"synonym":"Eumeces skiltonianus","synonymAuthor":"(Baird and Girard, 1852)","formattedSynonym":"<i>Eumeces skiltonianus</i>"}],"infraspeciesList":[{"infraspeciesId":101779,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101779","formattedScientificName":"<i>Plestiodon skiltonianus interparietalis</i>","scientificName":"Plestiodon skiltonianus interparietalis","primaryCommonName":"Coronado Skink","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101779/Plestiodon_skiltonianus_interparietalis"},{"infraspeciesId":101386,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101386","formattedScientificName":"<i>Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis</i>","scientificName":"Plestiodon skiltonianus utahensis","primaryCommonName":"Great Basin Skink","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101386/Plestiodon_skiltonianus_utahensis"},{"infraspeciesId":105130,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105130","formattedScientificName":"<i>Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus</i>","scientificName":"Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus","primaryCommonName":"Northwestern Skink","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105130/Plestiodon_skiltonianus_skiltonianus"}],"ebarId":"EBAR100793","ebarCanadianScope":true,"ebarGlobalScope":false,"ebarKbaGroup":"Amphibians and Reptiles","caGeneralStatusId":"GS000799"},"speciesCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":100793,"reproductionComments":"In Utah, mates in May or June, lays eggs in July, eggs hatch in August. Clutch size 2-6 (Nussbaum et al. 1983). Female guards eggs and stays with hatchlings until they disperse from nest.","ecologyComments":"Secretive. Life history not well known.","habitatComments":"Habitats include grassland, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodland, open  pine or pine-oak woods, and rocky areas near streams (Stebbins 2003); the species is partial to open wooded foothills and is usually associated with rocks, under which it takes shelter (also digs burrows in soil). Eggs are laid in burrows or areas excavated by the female under rocks and stones.","generalDescription":null,"diagnosticCharacteristics":null,"speciesMarineHabitats":[],"speciesTerrestrialHabitats":[{"cagTerrHabId":-105499,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":2,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Forest - Conifer","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Bosque - Conífera","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Forêt — Résineux","displayOrder":3}},{"cagTerrHabId":-105500,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":3,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Forest - Mixed","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Bosque - Mixto","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Forêt — Mixte","displayOrder":4}},{"cagTerrHabId":-105501,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":5,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Woodland - Conifer","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Lote de madera - Conífera","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Terrain boisé — Résineux","displayOrder":7}},{"cagTerrHabId":-105502,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":6,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Woodland - Mixed","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Lote de madera - Mixto","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Terrain boisé — Mixte","displayOrder":8}},{"cagTerrHabId":-105497,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":7,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Shrubland/chaparral","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Matorral/Chaparral","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Fruticée/Chaparral","displayOrder":9}},{"cagTerrHabId":-105498,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":9,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Grassland/herbaceous","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Pastizales/cobertura herbácea","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Prairie/couverture herbacée","displayOrder":11}}],"speciesRiverineHabitats":[],"speciesPalustrineHabitats":[{"cagPalusHabId":-101363,"palustrineHabitat":{"id":6,"palustrineHabitatDescEn":"Riparian","palustrineHabitatDescEs":"Ribereño","palustrineHabitatDescFr":"Riverain","displayOrder":6}}],"speciesLacustrineHabitats":[],"speciesSubterraneanHabitats":[],"speciesEstuarineHabitats":[]},"primaryReference":{"id":1153425,"citation":"Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx","shortCitationAuthor":"Nicholson","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"B25NIC01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:36:32.018241Z"},"predecessors":[],"elementGlobalThreatAssessments":[]}