Western Skink

The western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is one of two species of skinks native to California. Skinks are born with a vibrant blue tail, which becomes duller as they mature. This tail is easily broken off, and wriggles around to distract predators while the skink escapes! Although skinks can adapt to a variety of habitats, they prefer to live near water reservoirs in dry forests or grasslands. Their diet primarily consists of insects such as spiders, earthworms, crickets, beetles, and flies. Though common in the San Francisco Bay Area, by burying themselves below leaf litter, western skinks are a rare sight. When the weather is warm, keep an eye out for them foraging in leaf litter or burrowing under rocks!