Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: SKINK, NORTHERN PRAIRIE

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: REPTILIA

Order: SQUAMATA

Family: SCINCIDAE

Genus: PLESTIODON

Species: SEPTENTRIONALIS

SubSpecies: SEPTENTRIONALIS

Taxonomic Authority: (BAIRD)

Taxonomy References: 001 , 008 , 009

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S3
GLOBAL RANK G5T5

Status References: 003 , 005

Habitat Summary

"Are found in grassland. Also occur on open, grass-covered rocky hillsides near streams, occasionally in forest edge. In northern regions use soft sand to burrown beneath the freeze line *011*."

Primary Habitat: "Grassland(matrix)"

References: 002

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Has been recorded in northwest Missouri *04*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
GENTRY ADAIR
HARRISON ANDREW
NODAWAY ATCHISON
PLATTE AUDRAIN
WORTH BARRY
BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GREENE
GRUNDY
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 012 , 004 , 007 , 010

Distribution by Watersheds

Mo.R. from Nodaway to Kansas City
Platte R.
Grand R. from Headwaters to Shoal Creek

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Western
Glaciated Plains: Grand River

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

See Comments
Perennial Grass (Warm season)
Perennial Grass (cool-season)
Savanna (Grass-Shrub)
Edge (Forest-Field)

References for Habitat Types: 002 , 007 , 011

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Prairie

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 007

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Insects Insects; Not Specified
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, mantids); Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits 002

Adult Food Habits

Reptiles; Not Specified
Sauria (lizards, skinks); Not Specified
Snails; Not Specified
Arachnids (spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions, daddy longlegs); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 002

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland
Downed logs
Human association specified in comments(00690)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 002 , 007

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 002

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 002

Niche Requirement Summary

Downed logs
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Human association specified in comments(00690)
Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Successional stage: stable prairie/grassland

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 In KS eggs are laid in late June *02*.
018 Clutch size in KS 6-10 *02*.
017 Incubation period is 1-2 months *02*.
022 Mature at 2 years *02*.
030 In KS are active April - October, and burrow into the ground during winter *02*.
035 Predators include lizards, snakes and mammals *02*.
099 Size ranges from 132-190 mm total length *02*.

Life History Information

Periodicity specified in comments(030)
Regulatory factors specified in comments(035)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: stalking
Foraging sites: ground
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Nest/den site: log
Nest/den site: under rocks
Gestation/incubation period specified in comments(017)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Number of broods/litter per year: one
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 In KS eggs are laid in late June *02*.
018 Clutch size in KS 6-10 *02*.
017 Incubation period is 1-2 months *02*.
022 Mature at 2 years *02*.
030 In KS are active April - October, and burrow into the ground during winter *02*.
035 Predators include lizards, snakes and mammals *02*.
099 Size ranges from 132-190 mm total length *02*.

References for life history: 002

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Grassland - prescribed/controlled burning

Beneficial Management References: 006

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:
Prescribed burning should occur before April 1 *06*.

References for Management Comments: 006

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Unpb Missouri Department Of Conservation. Checklist Of Missouri Amphibians And Reptiles. Po Box 180. Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
002 Collins, J.T. 1982. Amphibians and Reptiles In Kansas. Univ. Of Kansas Publications. Museum Of Natural History. Lawrence, Ks. 283 Pp
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Powell, R. and R. Daniel. 1997. County Distribution Records Of Amphibians And Reptiles In Missouri. Missouri Herpetol. Assoc. Newsl. 10:12-69.
005 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
006 Unpb Johnson, Tom R. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102. 573-751-4115.
007 Easterla, D.A. and D.D. Sleep. 1999. Records Of Reptiles From Northwestern Missouri, Including County Range Extensions For The Northern Prairie Skink (Eumeces Septentrionalis). Mo Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 12:19-21.
008 Johnson, T.R. 2000. The Amphibians And Reptiles Of Missouri, 2nd. Ed. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 400 Pp.
009 Crother, B.I. (Ed.). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding (6th ed.). Society for the study of amphibians and reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 37.
010 Daniel, R.E. and B.S. Edmond. 2002. Revised county distribution maps of amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. MO Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 15:16-38.
011 Fuerst, G.S. and C.C. Austin. 2004. Population genetic structure of the prairie skink (Eumeces septentrionalis): Nested clade analysis of past pleistocene populations. Journal of Herpetology 38(2): 257-268.
012 Briggler, Jeffrey T. and Richard E. Daniel. 2020. Addendum: previously unreported county records from the Northwest Missouri State University Herpetology Collection. MO Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 33:12-14.