Bell Atlas - Plestiodon septentrionalis

Plestiodon septentrionalis
Family: Scincidae Northern Prairie Skink	Description Biology Conservation & Use Description: 5.25 to 8.75 inches in total length, snout to vent length maximum of 3.5 inches. This medium-sized lizard has a long tail and small legs. It is marked with three wide tan to light brown stripes, separated by two narrow black stripes along the length of the back. The dorsal stripe fades and does not extend to the top of the head. The tail color is basically the same as the body. During mating season, the males head, neck and lips turn bright orange. Dorsal scales are smooth, shiny and large. (MN DNR, 2022) Food: Crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and other small arthropods. (MN DNR, 2022) Habitat: Often found alon stream banks or openings in pine barrens, oak savannas and grasslands. They overwinter in self-constructed burrows below the frost line. (MN DNR, 2022) Reproduction: Egg layer, clutch size is 5-13 eggs, with a average of nine. (MN DNR, 2022) Conservation Status: Northern prairie skinks have no special status in Minnesota. (MN DNR, 2022)
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