The Many-lined Skink (Eumeces multivirgatus) is a medium-sized member of the Eumeces skinks, a kind of lizard, living in North America. Dorsum of adults pale gray with bold, dark, and more or less straight-edged uppermost stripes; dorsal scales smooth, shiny, tightly overlapping, with rounded rear edge; scales on sides of body (midway between limbs) in horizontal rows; tail (if never broken) 1.5-2.0 times as long as head and body (in El Paso County, Banta [1966] found that most adults have a regenerated tail). Mature male: lips reddish during breeding season.
Ten Facts about Many-lined Skink
- The many-lined skink inhabits areas of loose sandy soil and prairie-dog towns in eastern Colorado.
- It preys on small lizards, in addition to insects and sometimes rodents, like all members of the family.
- Southern South Dakota, Nebraska, and southeastern Wyoming south to eastern Colorado north of the Arkansas River.
- Like other lizard species, many-lined skinks will lose their tail when seized, distracting predators and allowing the skink to escape. The tail later re-grows.
- The lifespan is 8-10 years
- Predators include a number of birds, snakes, coyotes, badgers, the Kit fox and more.
- After a 2-4 week span following mating, the female will lay her first clutch of eggs, usually ranging from 1-2 in the first clutch.
- Mating during spring & summer.
- They are little harmful to humans.
- When prey comes too close it uses a rapid pouncing movement to capture the prey in its strong jaws.
