Description
The Western Skink is a long and slender lizard. It has
a wide brown stripe down its back bordered by a cream stripe on
each side. The tail of adults is grayish, while juveniles have
bright blue tails. Adult males have orange on the sides of the
head during the breeding season. Western Skinks can grow to over
20 cm in length, counting the tail which is longer than the body.
Confusing Species
The only other lizard in British Columbia is the Northern Alligator Lizard which is olive brown
or gray with a few or many small dark spots. The tail is the same
colour as the body and the Alligator Lizard has dark longitudinal
stripes on the belly.
Distribution
The Western Skink is limited to extreme southcentral
BC, particularly the southern Okanagan Valley. It is found across
much of the western US, as far south as California and northern
Arizona.
Habitat
The preferred habitat is grassland or open woodlands.
It is often found in rocky areas near streams, but can be found a
substantial distance from water. It spends most of its time under
rocks or logs or inside rotten logs.
Reproduction
Mating occurs in the spring and the females will lay up
to 10 eggs, although only 3-4 are more common in the north. The
eggs are laid in burrows or under rocks. The female remains with
her eggs, brooding them until they hatch in mid- to late-summer.
Natural history
The Western Skink is active during the day although it
is rarely seen. A carnivore, it hunts prey (a variety of insects)
in the leaf litter. If attacked, the lizard's tail will break off
at a fracture plane. The twitching tail distracts the potential
preadator while the skink escapes. A new tail is eventually
re-grown.
Conservation Concerns
Limited only to southern BC, the Western Skink is at
possible risk because of development in the Okanagan Valley.
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