HerpIndiana

Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)

Description

Coloration: Adults are small brown lizards with dark lateral stripes. The tail is usually a pale grayish color.

Scalation: Generally 7 to 8 upper labials, usually 1 postmental, and 25-29 scale rows at midbody (Minton 2001, 240). Scales are smooth.

Size: This lizard grows up to around 5in total length (Conant and Collins 1998, 262).

Juveniles: Juveniles are similar to adults in overall coloration.

Eggs: Females generally lay 2-5 (Minton 2001, 241) oblong white eggs of just under 1 inch in length.

Similar Species: An adult of this species could only be confused for a juvenile Skink of another species (Eumeces fasciatus or Eumeces laticeps). In Indiana, juvenile skinks of the genus Eumeces have bright blue tails and yellow dorsal stripes which this species lacks.

Distribution

Ground Skinks are found mainly in the south-central part of the state with some scattered records for southwestern Indiana (Minton 2001, 241).

Activity

Evidence from southern Illinois indicates that this species is likely active from sometime in early April through October.

This species likely breeds during May and eggs are laid sometime from late May to early June.

Taxonomy

The Ground Skink, or Little Brown Skink, (Scincella lateralis) has no subspecies. The Ground Skink belongs to the genus Scincella and is in the family Scincidae which is represented in Indiana by 3 different species.

Natural History

Habitat: This species is most often found in dry open woodlands. They seem to favor upland ridges, but Minton reported them from lowland riparian corridors as well (2001, 241). On spring and early summer days they can be seen in large numbers out foraging on the forest floor. They are often turned up under rocks and logs as well.

Feeding: This species feeds on a variety of small terrestrial invertebrates (Minton 2001, 241).

Breeding: Females lay their eggs under rocks or logs (Minton 2001, 241). In June of 2007 I found 4 eggs under a deeply embedded stone in brown county on an open hillside. The eggs hatch after a little over a month of incubation (Minton 2001, 241-242).