Natural History: Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis)

Ground skink caught at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area

The ground skink (Scincella lateralis) is a small, extremely quick and agile member of the skink family (Family Scincidae).  I caught a ground skink in some leaf litter along side a shallow swampy area at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area with some difficulty.  I wasn't sure if I had caught it or not and it took me several attempts to grab it- a testament to just how elusive they are.  This skink is very adept at blending in with the leaf liter, sticks, etc. and evading potential predators.  I only saw the one I caught because it dashed off and I caught sight of its movement.  After its hard fought escape attempt it remained relatively calm as it caught its breath (like other reptiles, they cannot breath while they are running away).

The ground skink is also known as the "brown-backed skink" or the "brown bark skink".  They have long tails and may look like a tiny snake moving through leafs and debris on the ground.  They normally do not climb, which surprised me.  When I put the individual pictured above into the plastic container I was a little surprised that it was not able to climb out.  However, the ground skink "may enter shallow water in an attempt to escape".

Their coloration is variable but is usually "golden brown to blackish brown...with a dark dorsolateral stripe" according the the field guide.  Their stomachs are usually a lighter color.  Another interesting feature of the ground skink is that they have a special adaptation which allows them to see when they close their eyes.  A see-through lower eyelid could be very useful to protect their eyes from debris on the ground or water.  Also, the ground skink is known to undergo tail autotomy when threatened.  Their diet consists of small insects and spiders.

The ground skink mates between January and August and lays up to 5 clutches of 1-7 eggs during the spring and summer months, which take about 1-2 months to hatch.  They do not have any parental care as females abandon their eggs after deposition.  The young take about a year to mature.

This species is one of my favorites because of its unique coloration that has a distinct golden glimmer in the sunshine.  If only they were a little less elusive and a little easier to catch!


Works Cited:

Conant, Roger, and Joseph T. Collins. A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians : Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.

Shapiro, Leo. "Scincella Lateralis." Encyclopedia of Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.