Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas

A figure (Figure 3) of type of *Eumeces striatulatus* (KUMVP 5079) from the original description (Taylor, 1941). A, Median view of the right dentary, enlarged. B, Same, lateral view. C, Single tooth from near middle of series. D, Cross section of the same.

An illustration (Figure 3) of Eumeces striatulatus, holotype (KUMVP 5079) from the original description (Taylor, 1941). A, Median view of the right dentary, enlarged. B, Same, lateral view. C, Single tooth from near middle of series. D, Cross section of the same.

REPTILIA (Reptiles) SQUAMATA (PART) (Other Lizards) SCINCIDAE (Skinks)

Rexroad Skink
†Plestiodon striatulatus (Taylor 1941)

Conservation Status:
Extinct

Diagnosis:
The outer face of the dentary is smooth except for depressions formed by a linear series of six somewhat large foramina, the most posterior one of which is opposite the fifteenth tooth. The outer face of the dentary is strongly curved. The bone is relatively thick, and the lower edge curves slightly.
On the median side, the large Meckelian cavity and groove are evident, the latter being almost wholly ventral. The groove, which is deep posteriorly, becomes shallow anteriorly and terminates near the symphysis. The upper medial edge of the dentary tends to fold up along the base of the teeth, making a slight trough. The lower, outer edge of the dentary is not upturned to present a medial face. The splenial is missing.
The teeth are strongly compressed transversely, each being closely anchylosed to the outer (lateral) dentary wall, so that the connections reach even above the general alveolar edge. The outer face of the tip of the tooth is somewhat rounded and curved medially. The inner, medial face of the tip is slightly concave and striated or puckered, the transverse, cutting edge being blunt.
There are 8 complete teeth in the dentary, the bases of 5 broken teeth, and spaces for 4 more. The posterior part of the dentary, bearing 4, or possibly 5 teeth, is missing. The total number of teeth is about 21, which is about the same as in many living forms. There are 6 or 7 teeth in a space of 4 mm.
Measurements of the type, in millimeters, are as follows; total length of fragment, 9; elevation of dentary at 14th tooth, 2.8; height of same tooth, 2.

Distribution:
Known only from the type locality in Seward County.
(, Museum Voucher) (, Observation) (, Literature Record) (, iNat Record), ( Fossil)
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Occurrence Summary:
5
Records
5
Museum Vouchers
0
Other Observations

Some county occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map above.
County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences):
Meade (4); Seward (1);

Fossil History:
Known from the Saw Rock Canyon (lower) local fauna of Seward County, Taylor (1941), Twente (1952).

Natural History:
Unknown.

Remarks:
The described species is distinctly larger than P. fasciatus, P. septentrionalis, and P. multivirgatus and there is no need to compare it with these. A very large specimen of P. obsoletus may equal the size of E. striatulatus.
Compared with a moderately large specimen of P. obsoletus the following differences are seen in P. striatulatus. The teeth are proportionally much wider and somewhat longer. In a space of 4 mm there are 6 or 7 teeth as compared with 9 to 10 teeth in a similar space in E. obsoletus. The general character of the teeth is very similar, however. The shape and character of the dentary is similar also, except that the foramina are more numerous (3 only in P. obsoletus) and the anterior tip is proportionally higher.

Bibliography:

1941	Frye, J. C., and C. W. Hibbard. Pliocene and Pleistocene stratigraphy and paleontology of the Meade Basin, southwestern Kansas. Bulletin of the Kansas Geological Survey 38():389·424 Biota associated with the various local faunas in SW Kansas, principally in Meade County.
1941	Taylor, Edward H. Extinct lizards from Upper Pliocene deposits of Kansas. State Geological Survey of Kansas, Bulletin 38(5):165-176 Original descriptions of Aspidoscelis bilobatus, Plestiodon striatulatus, Eumecoides hibbardi, and Eumecoides mylocoelus.
1946	Lane, Henry H. A survey of the fossil vertebrates of Kansas, Part III. The reptiles. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 49(3):289-332
1952	Twente, John W., Jr. Pleistocene lizards from Kansas. Copeia 1952(2):70-73
1953	Hibbard, Claude W. The Saw Rock Canyon fauna [Kansas] and its stratigraphic significance. Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters (38):387-411
1964	Hibbard, Claude W. A contribution to the Saw Rock Canyon Local Fauna of Kansas. Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters 49():115-127
1985	Schultze, Hans-Peter, L. Hunt, J. Chorn, and A. M. Neuner. Type and figured specimens of fossil vertebrates in the collection of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. Part II. Fossil amphibians and reptiles. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Miscellaneous Publications (77):1-66 Also check on several listed names not in KHA as KS taxa.
2005	Smith, Hobart M. Plestiodon: A replacement name for most members of the genus Eumeces in North America. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (14):15-16
2005	Brandley, Matthew C., Andreas Schmitz, and Todd W. Reeder. Partitioned Bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of Scincid Lizards. Systematic Biology 54(3):373–390

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