Description: Skinks are recognized by a cylindrical body shape with smooth, shiny, round scales, and relatively short legs. Scales on the body are fairly uniform in size, but those on the head are large and variable in size and shape. This species is medium-sized (total length: 15 - 23 cm [6 - 9 in.]). Adult coloration is brownish overall with varied amounts of dark spotting, but virtually no stripes. Young skinks are dark with light longitudinal stripes and a tail that is pink or blue. As the animal matures, the tail becomes reddish, as does the underside of the jaw and neck. Another skink, the Western skink (Eumeces
skiltonianus), also occurs in southern Nevada. The Western skink is smaller
and resembles an immature Western red-tailed skink, except that the Western
skink has dark lateral stripes that extend far onto the tail while those of the
Western red-tailed skink end at the base of the tail. The tail color in the Western skink is always blue.
Diet: Primarily insects and spiders, including beetles and grasshoppers. When
close to springs, probably eats aquatic invertebrates.
Habitat: Primarily pinyon-juniper and riparian habitats. Less common in mixed conifer, sagebrush, blackbrush and mesquite/catclaw habitats. Found in rocky areas or in areas with logs or leaf cover near permanent or intermittent streams.
Range: The species (Gilbert skink) occurs in isolated populations in southern
Nevada, southern and central California, central Arizona, and northern Baja
California. This subspecies, Western red-tailed skink, occurs in two isolated
populations: the first is located in mountain ranges in southwestern Nevada and
southeastern California, and the second occurs in central and southern California. In Clark County, Nevada, known from the Spring, Sheep, and Newberry mountains.