# Great Plains Skink (*Plestiodon obsoletus*) The Great Plains Skink is a shiny lizard with smooth scales and a long body. They love to bask in the sun and can be found hiding under rocks or logs in the grasslands. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Great Plains Skink](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eumeces_obsoletus1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eumeces_obsoletus1.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Plains Skink is a medium-sized lizard with a sleek, glossy body. Adults are typically gray or tan with dark spots forming faint lines along their sides. Juveniles boast a striking dark body with light stripes and a brilliant blue tail, which fades with age. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Scincidae - **Genus:** Plestiodon ## Interesting facts - Baby skinks sport dazzling blue tails that fade as they grow up! - Mother skinks guard their eggs fiercely, even turning them to keep them healthy! - Their super smooth, shiny scales make them look like living jewels! - They dig their own underground burrows, cozy homes safe from danger! ## Special abilities - **Tail Breakaway:** Great Plains Skink can shed its tail if caught, because the wriggling tail distracts predators while they escape. - **Egg Nurturing:** Great Plains Skink has strong maternal instincts that help them protect and care for their developing eggs. - **Expert Digger:** Great Plains Skink can dig intricate burrows because of its strong claws, which helps them create safe havens. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 7 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 6-20 - **Incubation:** 30-52 days ## Diet & Feeding These skinks are insect-eating champions, munching on bugs and tiny critters! - **Primary Foods:** crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, small lizards, snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Western Ratsnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-ratsnake) (*Pantherophis obsoletus*) — A common predator in its range. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Hunts small reptiles in open habitats. - **Eats:** [Striped Sand Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/striped-sand-grasshopper) (*Schistocerca lineata*) — A common insect prey found in its habitat. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch where you step in nature, and don't touch wild animals without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Plains Skink? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Great Plains Skink? 13-35 cm ### How much does Great Plains Skink weigh? 0.01-0.03 kg ### How long does Great Plains Skink live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Great Plains Skink move? 7 km/h ### What does Great Plains Skink eat? These skinks are insect-eating champions, munching on bugs and tiny critters! ### Where is Great Plains Skink usually found? Grasslands ### How does Great Plains Skink hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Glenrio](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glenrio) — Texas, US · Neighborhood ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Great Plains Skink: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-plains-skink)