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Great Plains Skink
The largest skink in its genus, the Great Plains skink can be found around waterways such as irrigation ditches on the Front Range and in the plains of Colorado.
About This Species
Great Plains skinks are shy, secretive lizards. While they are somewhat abundant and can be found in a variety of landscapes in eastern Colorado, they tend to hide during the day, and are rarely seen.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Upper scales smooth, shiny, tightly overlapping, with rounded rear edge; scales along sides of body in diagonal rows; tail no more than 1.5 times as long as head and body; most adults with relatively short, regenerated tails; maximum size about 35 cm (13.8 inches) total length and 14.2 cm (5.6 inches) snout-vent length.
Adult
Upper scales pale with dark edges forming stripes or irregular pattern; males and females difficult to distinguish; sides of head of adult males slightly enlarged during breeding season; reddish marks on lips of some adults (probably males) during breeding season.
Juvenile
Upper scales with dark edges forming a regular netlike pattern; tail blue.
Hatchling
Solid black; whitish and orange spots on head; tail blue.
Range
Most common in the Arkansas River drainage in southeastern Colorado (to about 7,200 feet), also occurs northward into the Republican River drainage and the South Platte River drainage in extreme northeastern Colorado. Secretive; locally fairly common.
Habitat
In southeastern Colorado, habitat includes rocky slopes and outcrops, canyon bottoms, floodplains of streams, and areas along irrigation ditches in prairie and semi-wooded regions, usually in sites near water. Found in sandhill habitats in northeastern Colorado. Secretive, readily burrows under objects; usually found beneath rocks, logs, wood, and other items on the ground; logs and rocks along streams or debris around old, abandoned ranch buildings provide favorable habitat.
Reproduction
Females lay eggs in June-July and attend them until after they hatch. Hatchlings begin to emerge in late July or early August.