About Plestiodon tetragrammus Baird, 1859
Plestiodon tetragrammus (the four-lined skink) has two subspecies that can be told apart by their coloration and stripe patterns. The long-lined subspecies ranges from gray to light brown, and has light stripes that run from the eyes past the forelegs. The short-lined subspecies is darker overall, and its stripes end before the forelegs. Like juveniles of many other Plestiodon species, juveniles of both subspecies of Plestiodon tetragrammus have a blue tail; this blue color fades as the individual ages. Adult Plestiodon tetragrammus reach a maximum snout-vent length of approximately 7.5 cm (3 inches), and a maximum total length of about 18 cm (7.1 inches). Plestiodon tetragrammus is found in northern Mexico, along the Mexican Gulf coast, and in western and central Texas. Both subspecies live in lightly wooded areas. The short-lined skink prefers rocky habitats, while the long-lined skink can also be found in grasslands. Each year, female Plestiodon tetragrammus lay a single clutch of 5 to 12 eggs, which the female broods. During the breeding season, males develop colored head pigmentation: orange for the short-lined skink, and red for the long-lined skink.
