Though this lizard can be plentiful in certain areas, finding those areas can be difficult.

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@papa-pepper was already over 30 by the time he finally got a chance to meet this one in person.

Thankfully, he knows others with the same interests!

The Northern Prairie Skink is very similar to the Five Lined Skink in diet and habitat, but the coloration is different. Five Lined Skinks are often black with yellow lines. Also, the lines for a “Y” shape on their heads. On the Northern Prairie Skink, though, the “Y” is absent. Additionally, Northern Prairie Skinks have a lighter coloration, and will not be dark black.

As with many other lizards, These Prairie Skinks are cold-blooded. When they are heated with the summer sun, they can race and dart at amazing speeds! However, if you can find one hiding on a cooler day, they are much more sluggish and easier to capture.

Care must be taken when handling lizards like the Northern Prairie Skink, because as a self-defense mechanism, their tails can detach when they are grabbed, or if they feel threatened. The tail will fall off and wiggle to distract the predator, while the lizard runs away and escapes.

Thankfully, a new tail will regrow from the breaking point, but that new tail will never be as long as the original would have been.

If you haven’t met this lizard yet, here is a little more about it!

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HERE IS THE PAGE FROM OUR FIELD GUIDE

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SOME NORTHERN PRAIRIE SKINK VIDEOS

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NORTHERN PRAIRIE SKINK IN THE HAND

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NORTHERN PRAIRIE SKINK – UP CLOSE

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NORTHERN PRAIRIE SKINK ON THE MOVE

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UPVOTE-FOLLOW-RESTEEM

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IN CASE YOU MISSED THE PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS SERIES:

• INTRODUCTION

• SNAPPING TURTLE

• AMERICAN TOAD

• GREY TREE FROG

• RED-BACKED SALAMADER

• GARTER SNAKE

• FIVE LINED SKINK

• SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE

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Stay tuned for the Spring Peeper next!