About Plestiodon brevirostris (Günther, 1860)
Common Name & Size
Plestiodon brevirostris, commonly called the short-nosed skink, can reach a maximum snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 129.8 mm, with an average snout-to-vent length ranging from 59.3 mm to 62.4 mm.
Body & Dorsal Pattern
This species has a stout, olive-gray body marked with two light dorsolateral stripes that run from the snout to the hind legs, plus dark brownish-black stripes along the sides.
Ventral Pigmentation
The belly is pigmented and speckled with scattered dark dots.
Male Markings
Males have reddish supralabials.
Tail Coloration
Fully grown adult short-nosed skinks have a red or brown base-colored tail, while juvenile tails are metallic blue.
Geographic Range
Short-nosed skinks are endemic to Mexico, where they occur in the states of Guerrero, Morelos, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, Michoacan, and Nayarit.
Habitat
They inhabit forests and shrublands at high elevations.
Reproduction
This species is ovoviviparous.
