Western Skink

At a glance

Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.

Confirmed by 9,920 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Oregon, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.

Notable details

• Juveniles sport a striking bright blue tail that fades to brownish-gray by adulthood.
• Range extends from British Columbia south to Baja California, among the widest of any western skink.
• Shelters under rocks, logs, and bark, emerging to hunt insects, spiders, and small invertebrates.
• The tail can be shed voluntarily to escape a predator and later regenerated.
• Smooth, shiny scales give the body a sleek, polished appearance.

Where Western Skink are seen

• California8,407 iNat obs
• Oregon745 iNat obs
• Washington233 iNat obs
• Utah176 iNat obs
• Idaho158 iNat obs
• British Columbia120 iNat obs

Background

The western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is a species of small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs. It measures about 100 to 210 mm (about 4 to 8.25 inches) in total length (body + tail). It is one of five species of lizards in Canada. They spend much of their day basking in the sun. Their diet ranges widely, including spiders and beetles. Western skinks will bite if grasped and…

Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Western Skink article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.

Other reptiles on CatchRules

• Pond SliderTrachemys scripta
• Western Fence LizardSceloporus occidentalis
• Painted TurtleChrysemys picta
• North American RacerColuber constrictor