| Plestiodon callicephalus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Plestiodon |
| Species: | P. callicephalus |
| Binomial name | |
| Plestiodon callicephalus (Bocourt, 1879) | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Plestiodon callicephalus, commonly known as the mountain skink, is a species of lizard, a medium-sized member of the Plestiodon skinks, endemic to North America.
At least one herpetologist [ who? ] has considered this species to be a subspecies of Plestiodon tetragrammus under the scientific name P. tetragrammus callicephalus, but the more common classification considers it to be a separate species based on differences in appearance and its distinct geographic distribution.
The mountain skink is a medium-sized skink reaching a maximum length from snout to vent of about 7.5 cm (3.0 in). Its body is olive to brown in color, with black stripes on the sides. On the head, it features a distinctive, roughly Y-shaped light line pattern, which gave rise to its scientific name: callicephalus is Greek and means "beautiful head".
Like many other Plestiodon , juvenile mountain skinks have a bright blue tail. However, contrary to most other species of this genus, adults retain this color, although it does fade a little with age.
The mountain skink occurs from southeastern Arizona and extreme southwestern New Mexico southward to Nayarit and Jalisco in Mexico.
In the U.S., the species is very localized. In New Mexico, mountain skinks are found only in the southern Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County) of southwest Hidalgo County. It is known only from Geronimo Trail and Guadalupe Canyon, where it is uncommon in its limited habitat. In Arizona, the mountain skink occurs in the Coronado National Forest.
Throughout its range in Mexico, the species seems secure, although many local populations may be jeopardized by habitat loss.
In New Mexico, the species is classified as "critically impaired".
The mountain skink is found in a wide variety of habitat, ranging from sea level to nearly 2,000 m (about 6,560 ft). It prefers areas with abundant and well-rotted leaf litter, providing cover and places for laying eggs.
Plestiodon callicephalus is a terrestrial skink, spending most of its time foraging on the ground, hunting for small invertebrates. It is a good burrower, burrowing its own den.
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Plestiodon egregius, the mole skink, is a species of small lizard endemic to the Southeastern United States.
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The prairie skink is a species of skink endemic to the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is one of only seven species of lizards that occur in Canada.
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The four-lined skink is a species of lizard, which is endemic to North America. It is a medium-sized member of the Plestiodon skinks.
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The northern alligator lizard is a species of medium-sized lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the North American west coast.
Plestiodon is a genus of lizards in the family Scincidae (skinks). The genus contains many species formerly classified under the genus Eumeces, except those now placed in Mesoscincus. They are secretive, agile animals with a cylindrical body covered with smooth, shiny scales. They are distributed from East Asia to throughout North America from southern Canada south to Mexico, including oceanic islands such as Bermuda.
Plestiodon barbouri, also known commonly as Barbour's blue-tailed skink and Barbour's eyelid skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Japan.
Plestiodon copei, also known commonly as Cope's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
Plestiodon dicei, or Dice's short-nosed skink, is a species of lizard which is endemic to Mexico. It was named in honor of Lee R. Dice, who collected the holotype in 1930 while conducting a faunal survey in the Sierra de San Carlos, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It was considered a subspecies of Plestiodon brevirostris for many decades. Plestiodon dicei occurs in northeastern Mexico, in the Sierra Madre Oriental in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, and Tamaulipas, with isolated populations in the Sierra de San Carlos and the Sierra de Tamaulipas.
Plestiodon dugesii, also known commonly as Dugès' skink, Duges's skink, and eslabon in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.
The Okada's five-lined skink or Far Eastern skink is a species of lizard which is endemic to Japan.
Plestiodon lynxe, also known commonly as the oak forest skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Mexico. There are three recognized subspecies.
