Saturday 15 June Prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis)
Prairie skink fact file - Find out more - Print factsheet
Prairie skink description The prairie skink (Plestiodon
septentrionalis), sometimes called the black-banded skink (3),
is a highly secretive North American reptile (4). This species
can be identified by its olive-brown or grey colouration (4),
with alternating stripes of light olive to black (4). These
stripes extend from the skink’s smooth, shiny body onto its tail
(2). The underparts of the prairie skink, including its belly,
chest, chin, throat, and the soles of its feet, are typically
cream or pale yellow (4). The limbs tend to be darker above than
below (4). The tail comprises about half the total length of the
prairie skink, and the female is larger than the male (4). The
juvenile prairie skink exhibits a bright blue tail (2). Two
subspecies of prairie skink are recognised: the northern prairie
skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis septentrionalis) and the
southern prairie skink (Plestiodon