Ground Skink


Scientific Name:

The scientific name for the Ground Skink is Scincella lateralis

Where they're located in New Jersey: 

Ground Skinks are located in the Eastern Southern Region, west to Eastern Camden, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties, Northern corner of Cape May County. All of Burlington Ocean, and Atlantic Counties. Most of Monmouth County.

Placement on Endangerment Scale: 

Least Concern (LC)

Physical characteristics:

Adult Ground Skinks are light tan or golden brown with a brown to black lateral stripe on the tail. Their underside is white or yellow. Juvenile Ground Skins are bronze colored with black specks. They can grow to be 3-6 inches in length.

Preferred habitat:

Wooded areas, under leaf litter and other forest floor debris.