Order Squamata

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Order Squamata
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• No carapace, plastron
• Limbless (all Serpentes, some Lacertilia) or
  limbed

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Order SquamataSuborder Lacertilia

• 4 legs (usually)
• External ear opening

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Suborder Lacertilia, Family Scincidae(Eumeces
septentrionalis prairie skink)

• Identification
• Many dorsal stripes
• Smooth scales
• Length to 23 cm
• Juveniles have blue tails

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Eumeces septentrionalis prairie skink

• Habitat
• Grasslands with loose soil
• Crevices in rocks, logs, under objects
• Diet
• Terrestrial invertebrates

http//www.angelfire.com/ab6/jnjkapfer/JuvieSkink0
4.jpg
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Eumeces septentrionalis prairie skink

• Reproduction
• Mate in April
• Lay eggs in June (under objects)
• Females guard nest
• Eggs hatch in August
• Distribution
• Western half of IA

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/
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Eumeces septentrionalis prairie skink

• Conservation
• Locally abundant
• Other
• Bask on rocks, logs
• Burrowers
• Tails break off, regenerate

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/Liz
ards/PrairieSkinkNew.jpg