- SCIENTIFIC NAME
- Plestiodon gilberti rubricaudatus
- CLASSIFICATION
- Reptile
- LIFE SPAN
- 4-8 Years
- STATE CONSERVATION STATUS
-
- Priority Species
- Unprotected
- FEDERAL CONSERVATION STATUS
- Least Concern
- GAME STATUS
- Non-Game
- Washoe
- Humboldt
- Pershing
- Churchill
- Mineral
- Lyon
- Douglas
- Carson City
- Storey
- Elko
- Lander
- Eureka
- White Pine
- Esmeralda
- Nye
- Lincoln
- Clark
Habitat & Range
These skinks can be found in a wide variety of habitats including grasslands, desert shrub, and pinyon-juniper stands. They prefer to be near water and avoid areas with dense vegetation. They are found in southwestern and southern Nevada.
- Mojave desert
- Pinyon juniper forests
- Warm desert riparian
Threats
- Habitat Loss
- Overcollection
Natural History
The Western Red-tailed Skink is most active from early spring to early fall. They are rarely seen out in the open and prefer to remain under leaf litter and will occasionally dig through loose soil. Their diet is made up of insects, but they may eat other lizards that they come across. Females build a nest chamber in loose soil and lay 3 to 9 eggs in the summer.
Fun Facts
Juveniles of this species have a bright red tail true to their name.
OTHER Species
