Taxonomy
There are two subspecies of the Coal Skink:
- Northern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus)
- Southern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis)
The (Northern) Coal Skink has first been described by Baird in 1850; the southern subspecies P. a. pluvialis was identified by Cope in 1880.
The Southern Coal Skink as a subspecies has posterior supralabials with light centers and dark edges, producing a spotted appearance. There are 26 or more rows of scales around the middle of the body.
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