| Plestiodon japonicus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Plestiodon japonicus (adult) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Plestiodon |
| Species: | P. japonicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Plestiodon japonicus (Peters, 1864) | |
| Synonyms | |
Eumeces japonicusGoris & Maeda 2004 | |
Plestiodon japonicus is a species of lizard which is endemic to Japan. [2] The IUCN lists the species as least concern. [1]
The species was first described in 1864 by the German naturalist Wilhelm Peters as Eumeces (Pleistodon) quinquelineatus var. Japonicus. It was placed into the genus Plestiodon in 2008. [2] The genus Eumeces now contains African and Middle-Eastern skinks.
A similar species is Plestiodon latiscutatus which is distributed o the Izu Peninsula and the Izu Islands.
Plestiodon japonicus has a total length of 15 to 24 cm with a snout-vent length of 6 to 9,6 cm. Juveniles have shiny blue tails and black bodies with five golden stripes. The adults are brown. While the females still retain stripes, they can disappear on the males. During the mating season the head of the males has a red color. [3]
The mating season occurs from April to May. The females lay clutches of 6 to 15 eggs. They stay and care for them until they hatch. [3]
The species has the largest distribution of any skink species in Japan. It occurs in Western Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and surrounding islands. [4] [1]
The Florida sand skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae, the skinks. It is endemic to Florida in the United States.
Plestiodon egregius, the mole skink, is a species of small lizard endemic to the Southeastern United States.
The western skink is a species of small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs. It measures about 100 to 210 mm in total length. It is one of seven 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 will flee if they feel threatened. It is a common but secretive species whose range extends from southern British Columbia and throughout Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming and into western Montana and northern Arizona and Missouri. They can also live in some areas of Texas It is widespread in northern California but primarily restricted to the coast in central and southern California. Found in a variety of habitats, this lizard is most common in early successional stages or open areas of late successional stages. Heavy brush and densely forested areas are generally avoided. Western skinks are found from sea level to at least 2,130 m (7,000 ft). This diurnal reptile is active during the warm seasons.
Plestiodon anthracinus, the coal skink, is a species of lizard which is endemic to North America.
The broad-headed skink or broadhead skink is species of lizard, endemic to the southeastern United States. The broadhead skink occurs in sympatry with the five-lined skink and Southeastern five-lined skink in forest of the Southeastern United States. All three species are phenotypically similar throughout much of their development and were considered a single species prior to the mid-1930s.
Plestiodon gilberti, commonly known as Gilbert's skink, is a species of heavy-bodied medium-sized lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States, and grows to about 7 to 12 cm in total length.
The Great Plains skink is a species of lizard endemic to North America.
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.
The (American) five-lined skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to North America. It is one of the most common lizards in the eastern U.S. and one of the seven native species of lizards in Canada.
Plestiodon inexpectatus, the southeastern five-lined skink is a common skink in the southeastern United States.
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.
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.
Plestiodon multivirgatus, commonly known as the many-lined skink, the northern many-lined skink, or the variable skink, is a medium-sized species of lizard, a member of the North American skink genus Plestiodon in the family Scincidae.
The Bermuda skink, longnose skink, or Bermuda rock lizard is a critically endangered species and the only endemic land-living vertebrate of Bermuda. It is a relatively small skink : adults reach an average snout-to-vent length of about 8 cm (3.1 in).
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.
Kishinoue's giant skink, also known as the Japanese skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae, endemic to the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
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 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.
