Northern Prairie Skink

There are two subspecies in our state, and they look quite similar. In general, these skinks have a longer tail than all other Missouri skinks. They are tan with a faint, light stripe down the back and one or two wide dark stripes along the sides. The northern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis septentrionalis) has more dark striping along the body and tail than the slightly smaller southern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis obtusirostris), whose stripes are fewer and fainter. Another way to tell them apart is their location (see Distribution notes below).