Plestiodon anthracinus (Baird) – Coal Skink
Plestiodon anthracinus (Baird) – Coal Skink

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Legend
     Exact locality, based on specimen(s) or photographs examined
     Exact locality, based on literature record believed valid
     Approximate locality based on specimen(s) or photographs examined
     Approximate locality based on literature record believed valid
     County record only, based on specimens or photographs examined
     County record only, based on literature report believed valid
     Type locality
?      Questionable and/or problematic record

Taxonomy: According to de Queiroz and Reeder (2008), two subspecies of this lizard are recognized. These include P. a. anthracinus (Northern Coal Skink) and P. a. pluvialis (Southern Coal Skink), both of which, along with an intergrade population, occur in Tennessee (Conant and Collins 1998).

Distribution: Populations of P. a. pluvialis have been documented from three counties (Benton, Henderson, and Humphreys) astride the Tennessee River in western Tennessee; a single record of P. a. anthracinus exist from Blount County in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and intergrades are known from one county (Polk) in the state’s extreme southeastern corner.

Museum Records by Counties: Benton—APSU 16350. Henderson—APSU 5991, 5992. Humphreys—APSU 4456.   Polk—NCSM 8591; UTKVZC 6300, 6313, 6402. 

Literature Sources by Counties: Benton—Jacob (1981), Jacob and Sanders (1980). Blount—Tilley and Huheey (2001). Henderson—Butterfield et al. (1999).

Questionable and/or Erroneous Records: None.

Conservation Status: Tennessee populations of Plestiodon anthracinus are considered Wildlife in Need of Management by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (Proclamation 00-14, Wildlife in Need of Management) and are given a state ranking of S1 (very rare and imperiled within the state, six to twenty occurrences, or few remaining individuals, or because of some factor(s) making it vulnerable to extinction) by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Natural Heritage (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation 2004).

Posted: 14 July 2008

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