Northern
Coal Skink
Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus
| Common Name: | Northern Coal Skink |
| Scientific Name: | Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus (Northern Coal Skink) formerly Eumeces anthracinus |
| Etymology: | |
| Genus: | Plestiodon is derived from the Greek eu meaning "good" and mekos meaning "length", referring to the long tail of the skink. |
| Species: | anthracinus is derived from the Greek word anthraco meaning "coal", and the Latin suffix inus meaning "pertaining to", referring to the coal like color on the sides of this skink. |
| Subspecies: | anthracinus is derived from the Greek word anthraco meaning "coal", and the Latin suffix inus meaning "pertaining to", referring to the coal like color on the sides of this skink. |
| Average Length: | 5 - 7 in. (12.5 - 17.8 cm) |
| Virginia Record Length: | 5.6 in. (14.3 cm) |
| Record length: |
| The northern coal skink has one postmental scale. Both the common and Southeastern five-lined skinks have two postmental scales. |  |
Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service: Species Booklet
Photos:
*Click on a thumbnail for a larger version.
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