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Home/Species/ Many-lined Skink

Plestiodon multivirgatus

Hallowell, 1857

Many-lined Skink

G5Secure Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100223
Element CodeARACH01090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyScincidae
GenusPlestiodon
Synonyms
Eumeces multivirgatus(Hallowell, 1857)
Concept Reference
Brandley, M. C., H. Ota, T. Hikida, A.Nieto, M. De Oca, M. Feria-Ortiz, X. Guo, and Y. Wang. 2012. The phylogenetic systematics of blue-tailed skinks (Plestiodon) and the family Scincidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 165(1):163-189.
Taxonomic Comments
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.

There has been disagreement over whether the southern subspecies should be called E. m. epipleurotus or E. m. gaigeae (see Hammerson 1999). The name eplipleurotus went long unused but has priority, and a recent informal ICZN evaluation concluded that epipleurotus is the name that should be used (Axtell and Smith 2004). Hammerson (1999) suggested that the variable skink (subspecies epipleurotus) might be a distinct species; genetic study is needed to resolve the question.
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-08-26
Change Date1996-10-28
Edition Date2005-08-26
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Range Extent Comments
The northern part of the geographic range includes southern South Dakota, Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming, and northeastern Colorado; the southern segment encompasses southern Colorado, southeastern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and possibly Chihuahua. Elevational range is 910-2,620 meters (3,000-8,600 feet) (Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences or subpopulations. For example, Degenhardt et al. (1996) mapped 70-75 collection sites in New Mexico. Hammerson (1999) mapped about 60 localities in Colorado. The species is secretive and undoubtedly occurs in sites not yet documented.
Threat Impact Comments
In prairie and shrubland regions, conversion of habitat to agricultural uses has caused local declines.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Northern populations inhabit prairie grassland and sandhills; southern populations occur in creosote bush desert, streamside thickets, pinyon-juniper and pine-oak woodland, fir forests, semidesert and oak shrublands, vacant lots, dumps; soil may be rocky, sandy, or loamy (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Hammerson, 1999, Stebbins 2003). This is a secretive lizard that is usually found under ground cover. Eggs have been found under rocks.

Reproduction

Lays 2-7 eggs, May-June; eggs attended by female, hatch in July or August (Stebbins 1985, Hammerson 1982, Fitch 1970).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesertSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS3Yes
UtahS1Yes
South DakotaS2Yes
WyomingS2Yes
Navajo NationS3Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
NebraskaS5Yes
TexasS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture——High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (8)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
New Mexico (7)
AreaForestAcres
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Comales CanyonCarson National Forest4,389
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
References (19)
  1. Axtell, R. W., and H. M. Smith. 2004. Clarification of name usage for the variable skink, <i>Eumces multivirgatus epipleurotus</i>. Southwestern Naturalist 49:100.
  2. Brandley, M. C., A. Schmitz, and T. W. Reeder. 2005. Partitioned Bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of scincid lizards. Systematic Biology 54:373-390.
  3. Brandley, M. C., H. Ota, T. Hikida, A.Nieto, M. De Oca, M. Feria-Ortiz, X. Guo, and Y. Wang. 2012. The phylogenetic systematics of blue-tailed skinks (<i>Plestiodon</i>) and the family Scincidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 165(1):163-189.
  4. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  5. Collins, J. T., and T. W. Taggart. 2009. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians. Sixth edition. The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrance, Kansas. iv + 44 pp.
  6. Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.
  7. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
  8. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  9. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  10. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  11. Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Queiroz, D. R. Frost, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., T. W. Taggart, S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2000 [2001]. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular No. 29. 82 pp.
  12. Fitch, H. S. 1970. Reproductive cycles of lizards and snakes. Univ. Kansas Museum Natural History Miscellaneous Publication 52:1-247.
  13. Griffith, H., A. Ngo, and R. W. Murphy. 2000. A cladistic evaluation of the cosmopolitan genus <i>Eumeces</i> Wiegmann (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae). Russian Journal of Herpetology 7(1):1-16.
  14. Hammerson, G. A. 1982b. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver. vii + 131 pp.
  15. Hammerson, G. A. 1999. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. Second edition. University Press of Colorado, Boulder. xxvi + 484 pp.
  16. Mecham, J. S. 1980. <i>Eumeces multivirgatus</i>. Cat. Am. Amph.Rep. 241.1-241.2.
  17. Smith, H. M. 2005. <i>Plestiodon</i>: a replacement name for most members of the genus <i>Eumeces</i> in North America. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 14:15-16.
  18. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  19. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.