3.24.04 Yavapai County

[Kerwin Ross]

Scott Potts and myself went out and found:

Adult Western Red-tailed skink
Sonoran Gopher snake
Western Diamondback
Coachwhip

2 DOR Desert Patched-nosed snakes

Kerby...

[JJFeldner]

several sources, the lizard you IDd as the Western Red-tailed Skink, Eumeces gilberti rubricaudatus, does not occur in AZ. The one you pictured was no doubt E. g. arizonensis, unless, of course, you zipped over to the Panamints or Inyos, took a pic and returned.
BTW, they are all nice shots and it seems like stuff is out and about up there. Good report.

[Kerwin Ross]

I don't know my lizards, that's for sure, but the 2003 Stebbins shows them where I found them. Map 108, page 489, Western Red-tailed Skink (E.g. rubricaudatus). This one was an adult, and almost uniform in color although the last half of the tail was a darker tan color than the rest of the body. Last year we found a juvie. here are some pics from last year.

Cheers,

Kerby...

[Kerwin Ross]

from last year

Kerby...

[Kerwin Ross]

from last year

Kerby...

[Kerwin Ross]

Kerby...

[Kerwin Ross]

Scott flipped this youngster and while taking pics we saw the WDB (above pic) all stretched out. He only coiled as I was taking pics.

Kerby...

[JJFeldner]

looked at my new Stebbins and you are right. Apparently, Stebbins has determined that there is no difference between E. g. rubricaudatus and E. g. arizonensis but the SSAR in Herp Circular # 29 still recognizes E. g. arizonensis, which ssp is missing from Stebbins. Stebbins old field guide (1985) indicates quite a large gap between the ranges of the two animals but the new one shows a homogeneous range for E.g. rubricaudatus. I guess it all goes to who you believe.
However, knowing how Stebbins constructs range maps, I would have to argue for a separate ssp in AZ. Stebbins maps just gloss over holes in habitat such as at least 90 miles of desert in which no self respecting skink would be found. BTW, depending on where you found the skink, it may be a range extension. Check the range map at http://www.reptilesofaz.com/h-e-gilberti.html.

Nice pics of the lizards from last year and the recent snake shots.

[Cmpyrrhus]

Those must be the same ssp skink I see here in the Bradshaws just south of Prescott. I never really knew what species they were, just like them a bit. This time of the year they litter the ground, along with any cooler spring-like temps during the year. I can always find them while flipping, usually under rocks or amongst dead trees and logs on the ground. Not as common as the Scelos or Urosaurus but still pretty common enough for me to see them often. I have tried to catch them a few times, but they have always goten awat from me. They are exellent at finding there way through the ground and litter:)

They typically (perhaps just males?) have bright red head coloring along with red tails? The lightish brown color is uniform on all of these here as well.

[Kerwin Ross]

are the Great Plains Skink (the one pictured is from Cochise County) and the Variable Skink according to range maps in Stebbins. The only skinks that I have found in Yavapai County have been the Western Red-tailed.

Kerby...

[Cmpyrrhus]

Thats gorgeous. Never seen them here though, but would certainly be cool to. I have seen the variable from time to time, yet not as often as the other. I never really have seen any reference to the western before, but then again I never really looked all that hard to be honest. I took a look at the Rep of AZ site awhile back and did not see it listed there either. Thought they had it all....:(

[JJFeldner]

E.g. arizonensis and not rubricaudatus is because there is an apparent conflict between Stebbins and the SSAR lizard group. Reptilesofaz has decided to follow the SSAR. That's why their website has Aspidoscelis instead of Cnemidophorus.