Eumeces callicephalus
Encyclopedia
The North American Mountain Skink (Plestiodon callicephalus) is a medium-sized member of the Plestiodon skink
s, a kind of lizard
, living in North America
.
a subspecies
of Plestiodon tetragrammus under the scientific name P. tetragrammus callicephalus, but the more common classification considers it a separate species based on differences in appearance and the distinct geographic distribution.
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.
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, 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".
Plestiodon callicephalus is a terrestrial skink, spending most of its time foraging on the ground, hunting for small invertebrate
s. It is a good burrower, burrowing its own den.
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...
s, a kind of lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
, living in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Taxonomy
At least one herpetologist has considered the speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of Plestiodon tetragrammus under the scientific name P. tetragrammus callicephalus, but the more common classification considers it a separate species based on differences in appearance and the distinct geographic distribution.
Description
The Mountain Skink is a medium-sized skink reaching a maximum length from snout to vent of about 7.5 cm (3 inches). 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 GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and means "beautiful head".
Like many other Plestiodon
Plestiodon
Plestiodon is the name for a genus of lizards formerly referred to as Eumeces, except those now placed in Mesoscincus.The genus Plestiodon are skinks...
, juvenile Mountain Skinks have a bright blue tail. However, contrary to most other species of this genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, adults retain this color, although it does fade a little with age.
Range
The Mountain Skink occurs from southeastern ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and extreme southwestern
New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
southward to Nayarit
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
and Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
In the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the species is very localized. In New Mexico, Mountain Skinks are found only in the southern Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)
Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)
The Peloncillo Mountains of Hidalgo County, , is a major 35-mi long mountain range of southwest New Mexico's Hidalgo County, and also part of the New Mexico Bootheel region. The range continues to the northwest into Arizona as the Peloncillo Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona...
of southwest Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.3% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.8% Two or more races*11.0% Other races*56.6% Hispanic or Latino...
. It is known only from Geronimo Trail and Guadalupe Canyon, where it is uncommon in its limited habitat. In Arizona, Mountain Skink occurs in the Coronado National Forest
Coronado National Forest
The Coronado National Forest includes an area of about 1.78 million acres spread throughout mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico....
. Throughout its range in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the species seems secure, although many local populations may be jeopardized by habitat loss.
In New Mexico, the species is classified as "critically impaired".
Habitat
The Mountain Skink is found in a wide variety of habitat, ranging from sea level to nearly 2000 m (about 6560 ft). It prefers areas with abundant and well-rotted leaf litter, provinding cover and places for laying eggs.Plestiodon callicephalus is a terrestrial skink, spending most of its time foraging on the ground, hunting for small invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s. It is a good burrower, burrowing its own den.