Western Skink (Juvenile)

Description:

I can't tell if this is subspecies skiltonianus or interparietalis. This is a juvenile, easily recognizable by the blue tail. "Striped with 3 dark brown and light cream stripes: A wide dark brown stripe, edged with black, extends from the nose to the tail down the middle of the back, bordered by two pale stripes which extend from the nose over the eye to the tail. Two more very dark stripes extend down each side through the eyes, to the tail, where they extend well out onto the tail. Two more pale stripes extend below these dark side stripes. The underside is pale or gray. The tail is gray or dull blue on older adults, and bright blue on juveniles. Younger adults often retain some of the bright blue coloring. The stripes on juveniles are more highly contrasted than on adults. P. s. interparietalis - Interparietal enclosed by the parietals in 80 percent of the population. Stripes of the body pattern extended onto anterior half or more of tail. P. s. skiltonianus - Interparietal rarely enclosed by the parietals. Usually less than 10 percent even in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties; and/or stripes of body pattern not extended on more than the base of the tail. " - CaliforniaHerps

Habitat:

Backyard in dry, rocky area. "It is widespread in northern California but restricted to the coast in central and southern California." - Wikipedia

Notes:

Coronado Skink http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/p... Skilton's Skink http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/p...