Plestiodon skiltonianus

Formerly in the genus Eumeces. Smith (2005) and Brandley et al. (2005) formally proposed that all North American species (north of Mexico) be placed in the genus Plestiodon. In a phylogenetic analysis of Eumeces based on morphology, Griffith et al. (2000) proposed splitting Eumeces into multiple genera, based on the apparent paraphyly of Eumeces.

Richmond and Reeder (2002) presented mtDNA evidence that P. s. skiltonianus is paraphyletic with respect to both P. s. interparietalis and P. s. utahensis as well as to the species P. lagunensis (Baja California) and to two of the three lineages of P. gilberti (Crother 2017).

The range extends from south-central British Columbia to northwestern Baja California, from the Pacific coast to western Montana, Idaho, eastern Utah, and north-central Arizona, including various islands off the west coast of California and Baja California (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). Elevational range is from sea level (California) to about 2,530 meters (8,300 feet) (southern Utah, southern Nevada, northern Arizona) (Tanner 1988, Stebbins 2003).

This species is represented by a arge number of occurrences or subpopulations. For example, Tanner (1988) mapped nearly 200 collection sites rangewide. Nussbaum et al. (1983) mapped even more localities than did Tanner for the Pacific Northwest portion of the range. The secretive habits of this skink suggest that it occurs in many more localities than have been so far documented.

No major threats have been identified. Reductions from habitat loss appear to be minimal.