Plestiodon egregius Baird, 1858

Scientific Classification

The bluetail mole skink, scientifically named Plestiodon egregius Baird, 1858, is a small, shiny, cylindrical brownish lizard.

Juvenile Tail Coloration

Juveniles usually have a blue tail that makes up slightly more than half of the animal’s total total length.

Adult Tail Coloration

Regenerated tails and the tails of older individuals are typically pinkish.

Limb Structure and Function

Its legs are somewhat reduced in size; they are only used during surface locomotion, and not used when the animal "swims" through the sand (Christman 1992).

Breeding Season Male Coloration

During the breeding season, males develop a colorful orange pattern on their sides.

Total Size

The bluetail mole skink grows to 9 to 15 cm (3.5 to 6 in) in total length.

General Habitat Type

This species occupies sandhill and scrub habitats.

Microhabitat Preference

Individuals are often buried underground, and particularly prefer to bask in the upper layers of Southeastern pocket gopher mounds.

Habitat Coexistence and Niche Partitioning

The bluetail mole skink shares its habitat with the also endangered sand skink, but does not compete with it: the sand skink feeds underground, while the bluetail mole skink hunts on the surface.

Anti-Predator Behavior

When threatened, it first presents its tail, and if that does not deter the threat, it plays dead.

Geographic Range

This species is found in central Florida, with confirmed presence in Seminole and Orange counties, and has also been sighted in Volusia, Brevard, Marion, Sumter, Pasco, and Charlotte Counties.

Sexual Maturity Timeline

Bluetail mole skinks reach sexual maturity after one year.

Reproductive Cycle and Nesting

They mate in winter; in spring, the female lays three to seven eggs in a shallow nest cavity less than 30 cm (12 in) below the surface.

Egg Incubation and Parental Care

The eggs incubate for 31 to 51 days, and the female tends the nest during this incubation period.