Many-Lined Skink
A smooth-scaled lizard with distinct lines that can be found in grasslands, often under cover objects.
About This Species
Skinks have no distinguishable neck and comparatively small legs. they can drop their tails if threatened, leaving their tails to wiggle for several minutes to distract predators. Like many lizard species, they are able to regenerate their tails if lost.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Scales on back smooth, shiny, tightly overlapping, with rounded rear edge; scales on sides of body (midway between limbs) in horizontal rows; tail (if never broken) 1.5–2.0 times as long as head and body (but most adults have a regenerated tail); maximum size about 19 cm (7.5 inches) total length and 7.3 cm (2.9 inches) snout-vent length.
Eastern Colorado
Upper side of adults pale gray with bold, dark, and more or less straight-edged uppermost stripes.
Western Colorado
Upper side of adults light to dark olive brown with two dark-edged white stripes along back.
Mature Male
Lips orange or reddish during breeding season.
Hatchling
Tail bright blue; upper side dark with three bold stripes or light stripes consisting of rows of tiny spots, with the outer stripes brighter than the stripe along the middle of the back.
Range
Colorado Distribution: Northeastern and east-central Colorado, at elevation principally below 5,500 feet. Montane areas of southwestern and south-central Colorado, including the San Luis Valley, at elevations up to about 8,500 feet. Spotty distribution in much of the range; secretive and hard to find in most areas, but generally more abundant than it appears to be.
Habitat
Eastern Colorado
Sandhills and plains grassland; areas of loose sandy soil and prairie-dog towns.
Western Colorado
Rocky grassy slopes in forested areas with ponderosa pine; edges of rocky canyons; piñon-juniper woodland; mountain stream sides; oak thickets; flat, sandy tracts with scattered shrubs (e.g., greasewood-rabbitbrush) (San Luis Valley). Seldom seen away from cover; usually underground or under objects such as rocks, logs, trash, or cattle dung; difficult to find when surface conditions are hot and dry (and in winter).
Diet
Many-lined skinks are diurnal insectivores.
Reproduction
Females lay eggs apparently in May-July and attend them until after they hatch. Hatchlings emerge early as mid-July through August.