Plestiodon skiltonianus
Silhouette: David Orr · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is a species of small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs. It measures about 100 to 210 mm (about 4 to 8.25 inches) in total length (body + tail). It is one of six species of lizards in Canada. They spend much of their day basking in the sun. Their diet ranges widely, including spiders and beetles. Western skinks will bite if grasped and will flee if they feel threatened. It is a common but secretive species whose range extends from southern British Columbia and throughout Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming and into western Montana and northern Arizona and Missouri. They can also live in some areas of Texas It is widespread in northern California but primarily restricted to the coast in central and southern California. Found in a variety of habitats, this lizard is most common in early successional stages or open areas of late successional stages. Heavy brush and densely forested areas are generally avoided. Western skinks are found from sea level to at least 2,130 m (7,000 ft). This diurnal reptile is active during the warm seasons.
Initially described in 1852 by Baird and Girard, the Western... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Portland | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoologico Caliente | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
No species of the same family or order lives in Zion National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Western Skink sighting in Zion National Park on a given day, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 15th most-seen of the 21 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Western Skink in Zion National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July and October–March, the lowest months. That is one of Zion National Park's driest months, with about 20 mm of rain against 75 mm in March.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Western Skink sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Western Skink sightings, Zion National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Redwood National Park (United States, about 10%) and Grand Canyon National Park (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Western Skink is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Zion National Park (23 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
