Red dots: Areas where this non-native species
has been established.
Click on the map for a topographical view
Map with California County Names
Click the map for a key to the other subspecies
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This species has been introduced into California. It is not a native species.
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| Two adults © Svdmolen - Wickipedia |
You can see lots more pictures of this species at iNaturalist |
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Description |
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| Size |
6-12 inches in total length (15 to 30 cm).
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| Appearance |
"A quite robust, sturdy, large and shiny skink, with relatively strong, yet short legs. Body and tail rather 'fat' compared with pointed, neckless head. Uaually pale yellowish, brownish, or greyish, with numerous small spots with a pale centre and dark edge (ocelli) as well as entirey dark spots." (Speybroeck et al. 2016)
Scales are smooth and shiny which is typical of skinks.
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| Life History and Behaviors |
In native range:
Mostly diurnal becoming crepuscular during summer.
Often found underneath turned objects but also seen basking on walls or dry vegetation.
Sometimes abundant, especially in lowland areas.
Defense is typically to run away into vegetation. |
| Diet |
| In native range known to eat a wide variety of invertebrates including locusts, crickets, ants, beetles, isopods, spiders, centipedes, and larvae. Occasionally known to eat small lizards and lizard tails including their own species. |
| Reproduction and Young |
Mating takes place in April and May.
Ovoviparous. Females give birth to 2-20 live young in summer.
(Speybroeck et al. 2016)
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| Habitat |
In Caifornia:
Found in the the coastal southern California region in a suburban neighborhood with paved streets and
small fenced lots with houses and yards with lawns and ornamental trees and shrubs.
Found in
the Mojave Desert region in a neighborhood with "...mostly degraded desert habitat with few lawns, shrubs, or trees." (Pauley, et al, Herp Review.)
In Native Range:
Found in a wide variety of environments and habitats including farmland and gravel deserts.
Found in variable habitat, both dry and humid.
Inhabits sandy coastal areas as well as dry stone walls in agricultural environments and limestone hillsides.
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| Range |
Native Range
Native to southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. (Some sources include India and Sri Lanka.)
Much of its native range is the result of historical introductions resulting in a discontinuous range in the Mediterranian region and elsewhere.
California Populations
Documented as established in California in two locations in San Bernardino County
- Ontario and Hesperia.
"The introduction pathway(s) for the California populations remain unknown. The species is popular in the pet trade, and these two new populations may have resulted from intentional or accidental releases of former pets. It is also possible that skinks were transported through the nursery trade."
(Pauly, Kennedy, Spurlock, and Clarkson. Herpetological Review 54(3), 2023)
Also observed but not documented in La Mesa, San Diego County.
North American Populations
Also established in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area and in Florida.
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Red = approximate native range of Chalcides occelatus
(Map based largely on Kornilios et al, 2009.
The southernmost distribution
along the Nile River is not known.)
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| Elevational Range |
In Europe: From sea level up to 4,900 feet elevation (1,500 m.)
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| Taxonomic Notes |
As many as six subspecies have been recognized - see The Reptile Database.
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| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
It is not yet known what effect introduced populations of this lizard might have on native wildlife. Because the Ocellated Skink can tolerate desert and Mediterranean climates, there is a lot of opportunity for them to spread throughout developed areas of Southern California.
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Taxonomy |
| Family |
Scincidae |
Skinks |
Gray, 1825 |
| Genus |
Chalcides |
(Skinks) |
Laurenti, 1768 |
| Species |
ocellatus |
Ocellated Skink |
(Forsskal, 1775)
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(Forsskal, 1775)
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Meaning of the Scientific Name
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Etymology from Latin ocellus = diminuitive of oculus: eye; with ocellated scales, or patches that look like eyes.
(From The Reptile Database)
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Ocellated Bronze Skink
Eyed Skink
Gongilo
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Related or Similar California Herps
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P. g. cancellosus - Variegated Skink
P. g. gilberti - Greater Brown Skink
P. g. placerensis - Northern Brown Skink
P. g. rubricaudatus - Western Red-tailed Skink
P. s. interparietalis - Coronado Skink
P. s. skiltonianus - Skilton's Skink
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More Information and References
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Pauly, Kennedy, Spurlock, and Clarkson. Herpetological Review 54(3), 2023
Jeroen Speybroeck, Wouter Beukema, Bobby Bok, and Jan Van Der Voort. Field Guide to the Amphibians & Reptiles of Britain and Europe. Bloomsbury Natural History, 2016.
Panagioitis Kornilios, Nikos Poulakakis, and Yusuf Kumlutas. Phylogeography of the ocellated skink Chalcides ocellatus (Squamata, Scincidae), with the use of mtDNA sequences: A hitch-hiker’s guide to the Mediterranean. September 2009 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 54(2):445-56
iNatualist
Wickipedia
The Reptile Database
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County article 4/23
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The following conservation status listings for this animal are taken from the April 2024 State of California Special Animals List and the April 2024 Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California list (unless indicated otherwise below.) Both lists are produced by multiple agencies every year, and sometimes more than once per year, so the conservation status listing information found below might not be from the most recent lists. To make sure you are seeing the most recent listings, go to this California Department of Fish and Wildlife web page where you can search for and download both lists:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB/Plants-and-Animals.
A detailed explanation of the meaning of the status listing symbols can be found at the beginning of the two lists. For quick reference, I have included them on my Special Status Information page.
If no status is listed here, the animal is not included on either list. This most likely indicates that there are no serious conservation concerns for the animal. To find out more about an animal's status you can also go to the NatureServe and IUCN websites to check their rankings.
Check the current California Department of Fish and Wildlife sport fishing regulations to find out if this animal can be legally pursued and handled or collected with possession of a current fishing license. You can also look at the summary of the sport fishing regulations as they apply only to reptiles and amphibians that has been made for this website.
This non-native lizard is not listed.
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| Organization |
Status Listing |
Notes |
| NatureServe Global Ranking |
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| NatureServe State Ranking |
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| U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) |
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| California Endangered Species Act (CESA) |
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| California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
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| Bureau of Land Management |
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| USDA Forest Service |
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| IUCN |
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