Plestiodon
Encyclopedia
Plestiodon is the name for a genus of lizard
s formerly referred to as Eumeces
, except those now placed in Mesoscincus
.
The genus
Plestiodon are skink
s (family
Scincidae). They are secretive, agile animals with a cylindrical body covered with smooth, shiny scales.
: voluntarily shedding a body part in order to escape, and later regenerating the body part.) After the tail regenerates, it usually has the same color as the rest of the body and is typically shorter than the original tail. In some species, regrown tails are pinkish. A regrown tail has a cartilaginous
rod for support instead of vertebrae.
Eumeces are all oviparous. The female lays eggs once a year after the breeding season in spring. The clutch size varies and is typically around 5 to 10 eggs. The hatchlings appear in late summer.
Like other reptile
s, these skinks are "cold-blooded" — they are ectotherm
ic animals: their metabolism
cannot regulate their body temperature. To warm up, they often bask in the sun. In colder climates, they hibernate
in winter in burrows below the frost line
. In hot climates, they are active mainly in the morning and evening, staying under cover during the hottest hours of the day to avoid overheating.
, should be changed to Lacerta fasciata, so that the genus name Eumeces would stay with the most species-rich clade. However this petition has not been verified by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Schimtz et al. argued that Griffith et al. violated the Code and rejected the proposal on good grounds. Thus only the African species of Eumeces schneideri
-group belong to the genus Eumeces
.
Within Eumeces
the following species are recognized:
Some species that were formerly considered Eumeces have now been assigned to new genera:
Now in Plestiodon
Now in Eurylepis
:
Now in Mesoscincus
:
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...
s formerly referred to as Eumeces
Eumeces
The genus Eumeces skinks comprises four African to Middle-Eastern species.-Systematics:Two taxonomic revisions have been made in the 19th century regarding genus Eumeces. They both resulted in similar results; the genus is paraphyletic and must be sliced up into several different genera...
, except those now placed in Mesoscincus
Mesoscincus
Mesoscincus is a genus comprising three species of skink native to Mexico and Central America. They were formerly included in the genus Eumeces.- Species :*Tepalcatepec Skink, Mesoscincus altamirani - Mexico....
.
The 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...
Plestiodon are skink
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 (family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Scincidae). They are secretive, agile animals with a cylindrical body covered with smooth, shiny scales.
Ecology
The conspicuous coloring is a survival trait: it attracts a predator's attention to the tail of the animal, which will break off when grabbed. A skink thus often manages to escape and hide under some rock, log, or fallen leaves while the predator still contemplates the wildly thrashing severed tail. (This is an instance of what is called autotomyAutotomy
Autotomy or self amputation is the act whereby an animal severs one or more of its own appendages, usually as a self-defense mechanism designed to elude a predator's grasp...
: voluntarily shedding a body part in order to escape, and later regenerating the body part.) After the tail regenerates, it usually has the same color as the rest of the body and is typically shorter than the original tail. In some species, regrown tails are pinkish. A regrown tail has a cartilaginous
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
rod for support instead of vertebrae.
Eumeces are all oviparous. The female lays eggs once a year after the breeding season in spring. The clutch size varies and is typically around 5 to 10 eggs. The hatchlings appear in late summer.
Like other reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s, these skinks are "cold-blooded" — they are ectotherm
Ectotherm
An ectotherm, from the Greek εκτός "outside" and θερμός "hot", refers to organisms that control body temperature through external means. As a result, organisms are dependent on environmental heat sources and have relatively low metabolic rates. For example, many reptiles regulate their body...
ic animals: their metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
cannot regulate their body temperature. To warm up, they often bask in the sun. In colder climates, they hibernate
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
in winter in burrows below the frost line
Frost line
The frost line—also known as frost depth or freezing depth—is most commonly the depth to which the groundwater in soil is expected to freeze. The frost depth depends on the climatic conditions of an area, the heat transfer properties of the soil and adjacent materials, and on nearby heat sources...
. In hot climates, they are active mainly in the morning and evening, staying under cover during the hottest hours of the day to avoid overheating.
Not dangerous to humans
These skinks are not dangerous to humans. They are not especially aggressive, but will bite if provoked. The bite is not very painful, even to small children.Systematics
Two Taxonomic revisions have been made in the 19th century regarding genus Eumeces. They both resulted in similar results; the genus is paraphyletic and must be sliced up into several different genera. Griffith et al. (2000) proposed that the type species for Eumeces E. pavimentatus, which is considered by many to be a subspecies of Eumeces schneideriEumeces schneideri
Schneider's Skink , Eumeces schneideri, is a species of skink found in central and west Asia and north Africa. It is named after the German zoologist, Johann Gottlob Schneider.-Description:Head moderate; snout short, obtuse...
, should be changed to Lacerta fasciata, so that the genus name Eumeces would stay with the most species-rich clade. However this petition has not been verified by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Schimtz et al. argued that Griffith et al. violated the Code and rejected the proposal on good grounds. Thus only the African species of Eumeces schneideri
Eumeces schneideri
Schneider's Skink , Eumeces schneideri, is a species of skink found in central and west Asia and north Africa. It is named after the German zoologist, Johann Gottlob Schneider.-Description:Head moderate; snout short, obtuse...
-group belong to the genus Eumeces
Eumeces
The genus Eumeces skinks comprises four African to Middle-Eastern species.-Systematics:Two taxonomic revisions have been made in the 19th century regarding genus Eumeces. They both resulted in similar results; the genus is paraphyletic and must be sliced up into several different genera...
.
Within Eumeces
Eumeces
The genus Eumeces skinks comprises four African to Middle-Eastern species.-Systematics:Two taxonomic revisions have been made in the 19th century regarding genus Eumeces. They both resulted in similar results; the genus is paraphyletic and must be sliced up into several different genera...
the following species are recognized:
- Eumeces algeriensis
- Eumeces blythianusEumeces blythianusEumeces blythianus is a species of skink found in India and Pakistan, named after Edward Blyth , Curator of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.-References:...
- Eumeces schneideriEumeces schneideriSchneider's Skink , Eumeces schneideri, is a species of skink found in central and west Asia and north Africa. It is named after the German zoologist, Johann Gottlob Schneider.-Description:Head moderate; snout short, obtuse...
Some species that were formerly considered Eumeces have now been assigned to new genera:
Now in Plestiodon
- Plestiodon anthracinus, Coal SkinkCoal SkinkThe Coal Skink is a North-American lizard that grows to 13 to 18 cm in length with a maximum snout to vent length of 7 cm . It is a four-lined skink whose light stripes extend onto the tail. The broad dark lateral stripe is 4 - 4.5 scales wide and there are no light lines on top of the...
- Plestiodon barbouriThomas BarbourThomas Barbour was an American herpetologist. From 1927 until 1946, he was director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology founded in 1859 by Louis Agassiz at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
, Barbour's Skink (JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) - Plestiodon brevirostris, Short-nose Skink (MexicoMexicoThe 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...
) - Plestiodon callicephalus, North American Mountain Skink
- Plestiodon capito
- Plestiodon chinensis, Chinese Skink (East Asia: ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Japan) - Plestiodon colimensis (Mexico)
- Plestiodon copei (Mexico)
- Plestiodon coreensis, Korean Skink (Korea)
- Plestiodon dugesii (Mexico) - rare
- Plestiodon egregius, Mole SkinkMole SkinkThe Mole Skink is a species of small lizard living in the Southeastern United States.-Taxonomy:The species is subdivided into five subspecies:...
- Plestiodon elegans, Five-striped Blue-tailed Skink or Shanghai Skink (East Asia)
- Plestiodon fasciatus, Common Five-lined Skink
- Plestiodon gilberti, Gilbert's SkinkGilbert's SkinkGilbert's Skink is a heavy-bodied medium-sized lizard of the family of skinks living in the south-western United States. It grows to about 7 to 12 cm total length.- Taxonomy :...
(North America) - Plestiodon inexpectatus, Southeastern Five-lined SkinkSoutheastern five-lined SkinkThe Southeastern five-lined skink is a common skink in the southeastern United States. Its scientific name E...
- Plestiodon japonicus, Japanese Five-lined Skink (Japan)
- Plestiodon kishinouyei, Kishinoue's Giant SkinkKishinoue's Giant SkinkThe Kishinoue's Giant Skink is a species of skink in the Scincidae family found only in Japan.The species name is a tribute to Japanese fisheries biologist Kamakichi Kishinouye .-Source:...
- Plestiodon lagunensis, San Lucan SkinkSan Lucan SkinkThe San Lucan Skink, Eumeces lagunensis, is a skink native to the Baja California peninsula.Together with the Western Skink , Gilbert's Skink , and the Four-lined Asiatic Skink , the San Lucan Skink belongs to the so-called "skiltonianus group"...
- Plestiodon laticeps, Broad-headed SkinkBroad-headed SkinkThe Broad-headed Skink is — together with the Great Plains Skink — the largest of the Eumeces-skinks, growing to a total length of to nearly .-Description:...
- Plestiodon latiscutatus, Okada's Five-lined Skink (Japan)
- Plestiodon liui (Asia)
- Plestiodon longirostris, Bermuda Rock SkinkBermuda Rock SkinkThe Bermuda Rock Skink or Rock Lizard is the only endemic terrestrial vertebrate animal of the Bermudas...
- Plestiodon lynxe, Oak Forest Skink (Mexico)
- Plestiodon marginatus, Ryūkyū Five-lined Skink (Okinawa and Amami IslandsAmami IslandsThe are a group of islands that is part of the Satsunan Islands, which are then part of the Nansei Islands. The islands are part of Kagoshima Prefecture, in the Kyūshū region of Japan...
) - Plestiodon multilineatus
- Plestiodon multivirgatus, Many-lined SkinkMany-lined SkinkThe Many-lined Skink is a medium-sized member of the Eumeces skinks, a kind of lizard, living in North America.-Taxonomy:...
- Plestiodon (multivirgatus) gaigeae, Variable Skink (North America) - sometimes Eumeces (multivirgatus) epipleurotus
- Plestiodon obsoletus, Great Plains SkinkGreat Plains SkinkThe Great Plains Skink is — together with the Broad-headed Skink — the largest skink of the genus Eumeces...
- Plestiodon ochoterenae
- Plestiodon parviauriculatus, Northern Pygmy Skink (Mexico)
- Plestiodon parvulus, Southern Pygmy Skink (Mexico)
- Plestiodon popei (Asia)
- Plestiodon quadrilineatus, Four-lined Asian Skink
- Plestiodon septentrionalis, Prairie SkinkPrairie SkinkThe Prairie Skink is a skink living in the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is one of only five species of lizards that occur in Canada.-Taxonomy:...
- includes Eumeces obtusirostris - Plestiodon skiltonianus, Western SkinkWestern SkinkThe Western Skink is a small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs, measuring about 100 to 200 mm long. It is one of five species of lizards in Canada. Western skinks are very adaptable. They spend much of their day basking in the sun. Their diet ranges widely, including spiders...
- Plestiodon stimpsonii, Yaeyama Seven-lined Skink (Japan)
- Plestiodon sumichrasti (Mexico)
- Plestiodon tamdaoensis
- Plestiodon tetragrammus, Four-lined SkinkFour-lined SkinkThe Four-lined Skink is a medium-sized member of the Eumeces skinks, a kind of lizard.- Taxonomy :There are several subspecies:* Long-lined Skink The Four-lined Skink (Eumeces tetragrammus) is a medium-sized member of the Eumeces skinks, a kind of lizard.- Taxonomy :There are several subspecies:*...
- Plestiodon tunganus
Now in Eurylepis
Eurylepis
-Classification:Genus Eurylepis*Eurylepis indothalensis*Eurylepis poonaensis*Eurylepis taeniolatus...
:
- Eumeces indothalensis - now Eurylepis indothalensis
- Eumeces poonaensis - now Eurylepis poonaensisEurylepis poonaensisEurylepis poonaensis, common name Poona Skink, is a species of skink found in India.-References:* Griffith, H., A. Ngo & R. W. Murphy 2000 A cladistic evaluation of the cosmopolitan genus Eumeces Wiegmann . Russ. J. Herpetol...
- Eumeces taeniolatus - now Eurylepis taeniolatusEurylepis taeniolatusAlpine Punjab Skink Eurylepis taeniolatus is a species of skink found in Central Asia and West Asia.- Description :Eurylepis taeniolatus Blyth 1854 is the type species of the genus Eurylepis....
Now in Mesoscincus
Mesoscincus
Mesoscincus is a genus comprising three species of skink native to Mexico and Central America. They were formerly included in the genus Eumeces.- Species :*Tepalcatepec Skink, Mesoscincus altamirani - Mexico....
:
- Eumeces altamirani - now Mesoscincus altamirani
- Eumeces managuae - now Mesoscincus managuae
- Eumeces schwartzei - now Mesoscincus schwartzei