Lizards and salamanders? Confused about whether they are the same or different species? While a lizard is classified among reptiles, the salamander belongs to the group of amphibians. Reptiles and amphibians are quite similar, but reptiles have dry scales, whereas amphibians have moist skin. Although amphibians live in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, reptiles are terrestrial animals. Similarly, the coal skink, Plestiodon anthracinus, is often confused between reptiles and amphibians. It is a terrestrial lizard from the class reptiles. It is further classified into two subspecies: northern coal skink (P. a. anthracinus) and southern coal skink (P. a. pluvialis). While the northern coal skink was first identified in 1850 by the American herpetologist Spencer Fullerton Baird, the southern coal skink was first described and named by the American paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1880. Eumeces anthracinus is the synonymous name coined by Edward Harrison Taylor. It has a medium-sized body with dark and light stripes on the back of its body running up to its tail. It is found in North America from Oklahoma in the east to Pennsylvania in the west and further to the Florida panhandle. It has a patchy distribution and is not common. Thus, neither the conservation status of the species is listed nor is its population quantified. The predatory species is known to forage in leaf litter. Surprisingly, like all lizards, it can regenerate a new tail.If the uniqueness of the southern coal skink makes you interested in reading more about similar species, you can read about the western skink and the common garden skink.
Fun Southern Coal Skink Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type Slimy scales
What were their main threats? Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated
Where you’ll find them? Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
Southern Coal Skink Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a southern coal skink?The southern coal skink, Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis, is a subspecies of coal skink under the genus Plestiodon. It has a medium-sized body compared to the species of lizards. It was first described in 1880 by American paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope. While it is often confused between reptiles and amphibians, it is a terrestrial reptile found in East Asia and eastern and central North America.What class of animal does a southern coal skink belong to?The coal skink belongs to the class Reptilia, order Squamata, family Scincidae, and genus Plestiodon. Coal skinks are classified into two subspecies: the northern coal skink (P. a. anthracinus) and the southern coal skink (P. a. pluvialis).How many southern coal skinks are there in the world?Neither the conservation status of the species is evaluated nor is the estimated population quantified. Southern coal skinks have a patchy distribution and are not common within their range. Though it is speculated to have a sizeable population, its population is reportedly decreasing except for the extant population in Russell County.Where does a southern coal skink live?Coal skinks range within North America and East Asia. They are primarily found in central and southwestern states of the continent including eastern Alabama. It is not endemic to a particular region.What is a southern coal skink’s habitat?These southern coal skinks are located in open and moist forests, woodlands, shrublands, and hillsides near streams, rivers, and sloughs. They are shy lizards that are quite active from mid-March to September and primarily during their breeding season occurring in the spring season.Who do southern coal skinks live with?A southern coal skink is a shy species, often found leading a solitary life. It is found in pairs during the breeding season, while it mostly lives hiding under a rock or a log.How long does a southern coal skink live?Although the southern coal skink has threats from its predators, its ability to break its tail and generate a new tail assists the species to fight off and escape its predators leading to a higher probability of a longer life. The life span of the southern coal skink is unknown. However, the average life span of a skink is between 5-20 years, depending on the type of species.How do they reproduce?Though the breeding season of the southern coal skink is known to vary within its range, it often occurs in the early spring. Females are known to lay eight to nine eggs. The clutch size of eggs corresponds to the size of females as larger females lay more eggs than smaller females. Males develop orange-red cheeks around the sides during the breeding season. The female parent is known to guard and incubate eggs until they hatch by the summer.What is their conservation status? The conservation status of the southern coal skink is Not Evaluated on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.Southern Coal Skink Fun FactsWhat do southern coal skinks look like?The southern coal skink has slimy, smooth scales. It has a broad, dark brown lateral stripe over its body bordered by thin light stripes of white. It has four lines on its back and no light lines over its head. Males and females portray sexual dimorphism as the female body size is larger than the average body size of males. Also, males develop orange-red cheeks on the side of their heads during the mating season. While adults have a dark brown pelage with light and dark stripes, juveniles are uniformly black reflecting faint traces of stripes with an opposite appearance to adults except for light-shaded lip scales and a tail with a blue tint. These skinks have long tails that can be regenerated if chopped off.How cute are they?A southern coal skink is often considered a cute species, though opinions may vary. The slim and elongated body size is sure to make you go ‘aww’ over its appearance. Shiny and slimy scales with a dark brown pelage and stripes never fail to catch your attention if spotted.How do they communicate?Skinks are known to communicate through chemicals called pheromones that are released by glands in their legs. Although the communication mechanism of the southern coal skink is not studied, it is thought to communicate via similar mechanisms.How big is a southern coal skink?Southern coal skinks are approximately 5-6 in (13-15 cm) long.How fast can a southern coal skink move?Skinks are speculated to move pretty fast as the average speed ranges up to 65 mph (104 kph).How much does a southern coal skink weigh?The weight of the southern coal skink is not computed. It is thought to weigh approximately the same as the northern coal skink which weighs up to 0.007-0.01 oz (0.2-0.3 g). The weight of skinks is quite negligible.What are the male and female names of the species?The male and female do not have sex-specific names.What would you call a baby southern coal skink?A baby southern coal skink does not have a specific name but can be referred as to a hatchling.What do they eat?The southern coal skink forages in leaf litter. It preys upon arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, worms, and other invertebrates.Are they poisonous?No, these skinks are not poisonous or venomous.Would they make a good pet?Although a skink can make a great pet, wild species are advised to be kept free. While petting and caring for a skink, one must ensure free space so that it does not break off its tail. A tail can be regenerated, yet it should be protected.Did you know…A skink can regenerate its tail. The ability to regenerate a new tail is often referred to as autotomy.Do skinks attack?Though the skink may attack if threatened, it is a myth that its bite is poisonous. Skink bites are rare.How many eggs do southern coal skink lay?A southern coal skink often lays around eight to nine eggs on average. The size of the clutch varies according to the size of the female.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles from our Siamese crocodile facts and horned viper facts for kids.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable reptile coloring pages. Main image: Peter PaplanusSecond image: The original uploader was Lupo at English Wikipedia.
What type of animal is a southern coal skink?
The southern coal skink, Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis, is a subspecies of coal skink under the genus Plestiodon. It has a medium-sized body compared to the species of lizards. It was first described in 1880 by American paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope. While it is often confused between reptiles and amphibians, it is a terrestrial reptile found in East Asia and eastern and central North America.
Fun Southern Coal Skink Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type Slimy scales
What were their main threats? Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated
Where you’ll find them? Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
Fun Southern Coal Skink Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type Slimy scales
What were their main threats? Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated
Where you’ll find them? Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
Fun Southern Coal Skink Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type Slimy scales
What were their main threats? Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated
Where you’ll find them? Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
Fun Southern Coal Skink Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type Slimy scales
What were their main threats? Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated
Where you’ll find them? Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
What do they prey on? Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type Slimy scales
What were their main threats? Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated
Where you’ll find them? Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
What do they prey on? Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type Slimy scales
What were their main threats? Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status? Not Evaluated
What do they prey on?
Arthropods including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, king worms, mealworms, and invertebrates
What do they eat?
Carnivore
Average litter size?
8-9 eggs
How much do they weigh?
N/A
How long are they?
5-6 in (13-15 cm)
How tall are they?
What do they look like?
Brown, black, white, yellow, gray, and red
Skin Type
Slimy scales
What were their main threats?
Habitat Loss, Humans And Predators
What is their conservation status?
Not Evaluated
Where you’ll find them? Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
Where you’ll find them?
Woodlands, Rivers, Shrublands, Sloughs, Open And Moist Forests, Hillsides Near Streams
Locations
East Asia And Eastern And Central North America
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Plestiodon
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Plestiodon
Class Reptilia
Family Scincidae
