Western Skink - Description

Description

The Western Skink is a secretive and very agile lizard that forages actively through leaf litter and dense vegetation, preying upon small invertebrates including spiders,a variety of insects and sow bugs. Crickets, beetles, moths, grasshoppers, and other arthropods have been found in the stomachs of skinks. Prey is sometimes stalked and cannibalism has been reported. It is a good burrower and sometimes constructs burrows several times its own body length.

Found in a variety of habitats from sea level to at least 2,130 m (7,000 ft), the Western Skink is commonest in early successional stages or open areas within habitats in which it occurs. Heavy brush and densely forested areas are generally avoided. The Western Skink seems to prefer a somewhat moist environment, although it can also be found on dry hillsides. Frequents grassland, broken chaparral, pinon-juniper and juniper-sage woodland, and open pine-oak and pine forests. The soil of its nest chambers is invariably moist. Standing water is apparently not required.

Aside from fading with age, color pattern of adults varies little. Broad brown stripe down back, edged with black and bordered on each side by conspicuous whitish to beige dorsolateral stripe that begins on nose and extends over eye and back alongside body onto tail. Pale dorsolateral stripes on joined halves of 2nd and 3rd scale rows. A second pale stripe, starting on upper jaw, occurs low on each side and is separated from the first by a broad dark brown or black band originating on side of head and usually extending well out onto tail. Tail dull blue (in juveniles) or gray. In the breeding season reddish or orange color appears on side of head and chin and occasionally on sides, tip, and underside of tail. Usually 7 upper labials and 4 enlarged nuchals. Young exhibit a striped pattern more vivid than in adult and tail bright blue. Dark lateral stripe usually extends well out on side of tail.