Chinese Skink

Chinese Skink

Plestiodon chinensis

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Tuen Mun

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

8 Verified sightings at Tuen Mun
August Best month

About the Chinese Skink

Plestiodon chinensis, the Chinese blue-tailed skink, is a species of lizard which is found in China, western Taiwan, and northern Vietnam. P. chinensis was named after the skink's home in China. There are four subspecies (though not all with universal recognition): Plestiodon chinensis chinensis (Gray, 1838) – China, Vietnam

Plestiodon chinensis daishanensis (Mao, 1983) – Zhoushan Islands, China Plestiodon chinensis formosensis Van Denburgh, 1912 – Taiwan Plestiodon chinensis pulcher Duméril & Bibron, 1839 – China Plestiodon chinensis formosensis from eastern Taiwan were in 2017 found to be identical with Plestiodon chinensis leucostictus, now recognized as Plestiodon leucostictus.

The Chinese blue-tailed skink has an average snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 13 cm, with a total length of 35 cm. It is large and stout, with a broad head and a pale white underside. As juveniles mature, their body undergoes a change in color from a dark brown with three light dorsal stripes and a blue tail to a fully mature brownish green, complete with reddish spots on the flanks. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Changsha 🇨🇳 China
~20%
2 Tuen Mun 🇨🇳 China
~10%
3 Taipei 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%
4 Guangzhou 🇨🇳 China
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Chinese Skink in Tuen Mun?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Chinese Skink sighting in Tuen Mun on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 13th most-seen of the 21 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Chinese Skink in Tuen Mun?

February–April, June and August–October

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Chinese Skink in Tuen Mun on a given day, against under 5% in May, July and November–January, the lowest months.

Is Tuen Mun the best place to see a Chinese Skink?

2nd of 4

Of the 4 cities where we can rate Chinese Skink sightings, Tuen Mun ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Changsha (China, about 20%).

Where does the Chinese Skink sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Chinese Skink is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Tuen Mun (8 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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