Plestiodon skiltonianus

The range of this species extends from south-central British Columbia in Canada, through the western United States to northwestern Baja California in Mexico. In the United States it ranges from the Pacific coast to western Montana, Idaho, eastern Utah, and north-central Arizona, including various islands off the west coast of California and Baja California (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). In Mexico, its range extends possibly as far south as el Rosario. Its elevational range is from sea level (California) to about 2,530 m (8,300 feet) (southern Utah, southern Nevada, northern Arizona) (Tanner 1988, Stebbins 2003).

endemic to a single nation

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)) The range extends from south-central British Columbia to northwestern Baja California, from the Pacific coast to western Montana, Idaho, eastern Utah, and north-central Arizona, including various islands off the west coast of California and Baja California (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). Elevational range is from sea level (California) to about 2,530 meters (8,300 feet) (southern Utah, southern Nevada, northern Arizona) (Tanner 1988, Stebbins 2003).

Continent: Middle-America North-America
Distribution: Canada (S British Columbia) USA (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Montana, Utah), Mexico (N Baja California, Los Coronados Islands, Todos Santos Islands, Ensenada, San José, Rancho San José, Alcatraz, San Pedro Mártir Mountains, Arroyo Encantada, San Quintín)  
Type locality: Oregon. Restricted to “The Dalles” by SMITH & TAYLOR 1950.

Length: 24 cm

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Comments: Habitats include grassland, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodland, open pine or pine-oak woods, and rocky areas near streams (Stebbins 2003); the species is partial to open wooded foothills and is usually associated with rocks, under which it takes shelter (also digs burrows in soil). Eggs are laid in burrows or areas excavated by the female under rocks and stones.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Comments: Feeds on a wide variety of insects (crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, flies, etc), spiders and earthworms.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 - 300

Comments: This species is represented by a arge number of occurrences or subpopulations. For example, Tanner (1988) mapped nearly 200 collection sites rangewide. Nussbaum et al. (1983) mapped even more localities than did Tanner for the Pacific Northwest portion of the range. The secretive habits of this skink suggest that it occurs in many more localities than have been so far documented.

10,000 - 1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Total adult population size is unknown but surely exceeds 10,000 and probably exceeds 100,000. The species is locally common in many areas. Like most skinks, it is secretive and much more numerous than visual observations would suggest.

Secretive. Life history not well known.

Comments: Inactive in cold winter weather; duration of inactive period varies with local climate.

In Utah, mates in May or June, lays eggs in July, eggs hatch in August. Clutch size 2-6 (Nussbaum et al. 1983). Female guards eggs and stays with hatchlings until they disperse from nest.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 6
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N1 - Critically Imperiled

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Intrinsic Vulnerability: Moderately vulnerable

Population

Population Trend

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Trends are undocumented, but extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size are large and probably relatively stable.

Global Long Term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30%

Degree of Threat: Low

Comments: No major threats have been identified. Reductions from habitat loss appear to be minimal.

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

Global Protection: Very many (>40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: This lizard occurs in many national parks and other protected areas.