NPSpecies

The specimen collected in 1934 documents that this species was present in the parks historically. The recent observations in the parks by Harold Werner suggest that this species is still present. Although he was uncertain due to their scale counts not matching up with published descriptions for the species, several of these were adult animals, which are distinct from their only congener in the parks – Gilbert’s skink. Thus, although Werner may have seen a variety of western skink that is unique to the southern Sierra Nevada, he nevertheless likely saw western skinks. The western skink’s current status within SEKI is “Probably Present.”

Data Source: Stebbins, R.C., 2003. Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin, 544 pp.