Plestiodon multivirgatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Scincidae |
Genus: | Plestiodon |
Species: | P. multivirgatus |
Binomial name | |
Plestiodon multivirgatus Hallowell, 1857 | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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 species is native to the western United States.
The taxonomy of this species is somewhat unclear, even amongst researchers. Most commonly, two subspecies are recognized:
The latter is sometimes treated as a separate species Plestiodon epipleurotus or Plestiodon gaigeae (Taylor, 1935), or given as the subspecies P. m. gaigeae. These last two scientific names are in honor of American herpetologist Helen Beulah Thompson Gaige (1890–1976) of the University of Michigan. [3]
P. m. epipleurotus is also called the two-lined skink.
The many-lined skink is a medium-sized skink reaching a maximum snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 7.5 cm (3.0 in) and a total length of roughly 19 cm (7.5 in). Its body is olive to brown in color. P. m. multivirgatus has black stripes along the body and tail, while P. m. epipleurotus has two white stripes with black borders. [2]
The geographic range of P. m. multivirgatus in the north includes southern South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming, and extends in the south to the Arkansas River in Colorado. P. m. multivirgatus prefers sandy soil and occurs in habitat below 1,675 m (5,495 ft). [1]
P. m. epipleurotus occurs from south-eastern Utah and southern Colorado through Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. It lives in rocky habitat up to elevations of 2,600 m (8,500 ft). [1]
P. multivirgatus is oviparous. [2] Eggs are deposited under rocks. [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.
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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.
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Sceloporus merriami, commonly known as the canyon lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the south-western United States and northern Mexico.
The Texas lined snake is a subspecies of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The subspecies is endemic to the United States.
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The ravine salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. The species is endemic to the United States, and it is threatened by habitat loss.
Barbour's map turtle is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is native to the southeastern United States.
The striped whipsnake is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is closely related to the California whipsnake. The striped whipsnake is native to the western United States and adjacent northern Mexico.
The Mississippi map turtle is a subspecies of land and water turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. G. p. kohni is endemic to the central United States.