Great Plains Skink (Plestiodon obsoletus) - Endangered

Description: 6½ - 13¾ inches. Young Great Plains Skinks are black with light spots on the head and lips, and have bright blue tails. As they age, tan or brown spots will start to appear on each scale, and the will lose its blue coloring. Adult Great Plains Skinks may appear to be black with tan or brown spots, or tan or brown with black flecks.

Similar Species: Five-lined Skinks and Northern Prairie Skinks look similar to young Great Plains Skinks, but have white or yellow stripes running down the length of the body.

Age in years of Most Recent Record
75+ 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5
                             

This map is generated from data provided by the Drake University Biodiversity Center, observations from HerpMapper.org, the Iowa DNR Natural Areas Inventory, as well as other sources. Please help us keep it up to date by reporting your sightings to HerpMapper.

Media