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The western skink ''(Plestiodon skiltonianus)'' is a species of small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs. It measures about 100 to 210 mm (about 4 to 8.25 inches) in total length (body + tail). It is one of five species of lizards in Canada. They spend much of their day basking in the sun. Their diet ranges widely, including spiders and beetles. Western skinks will bite if grasped and will flee if they feel threatened. It is a common but secretive species whose range extends throughout Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming and into western Montana and northern Arizona.They can also live in some areas of Texas〔Stebbins, R. C. 1985. ''A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Second Edition, Revised''. Houghton Mifflin. Boston, Massachusetts. 336 pp.〕 It is widespread in northern California but restricted to the coast in central and southern California. Found in a variety of habitats, this lizard is most common in early successional stages or open areas of late successional stages. Heavy brush and densely forested areas are generally avoided.〔Tanner, W.W. 1957. A Taxonomic and Ecological Study of the Western Skink ''(Eumeces skiltonianus)''. Great Basin Naturalist 17 (3-4): 59-94.〕 Western skinks are found from sea level to at least 2,130 m (7,000 ft).〔Zeiner, D.C.; W.F. Laudenslayer, Jr.; K.E. Mayer; and M. White; eds. 1988. ''California's Wildlife. Vol. 1. Amphibians and Reptiles''. Calififornia Dept. of Fish and Game. Sacramento, California. 272 pp.〕 This diurnal reptile is active during the warm seasons.〔 ==Taxonomy== Tetrapoda: Amniota: Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae Baird and Girard described Skilton's skink in 1852 and named it in honor of Dr. Avery J. Skilton, who had sent them specimens. Tanner (1957) identified the subspecies ''interparietalis'' and ''utahensis''. There are three recognized subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies:〔 *Coronado skink, ''P.s. interparietalis'' (W. Tanner, 1957) Occurs in southern California and Baja California, Mexico. *Great Basin skink, ''P.s. utahensis'' (W. Tanner, 1957) Occurs in Utah. *Skilton's skink, ''P.s. skiltonianus'' Baird & Girard, 1852 The most common is Skilton's skink, which occurs throughout the western United States west of the Rocky Mountains and in southern British Columbia, Canada. Together with Gilbert's skink (''P. gilberti''), the San Lucan skink (''P. lagunensis''), and the four-lined Asiatic skink (''P. quadrilineatus''), the western skink belongs to the so-called "''skiltonianus'' group". The exact taxonomy within this group is being questioned and may need revision following DNA analysis research. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Western skink」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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