Scincella gemmingeri
# Scincella gemmingeri

Scincella gemmingeri, commonly known as the forest ground skink, Cope's forest ground skink, and la escíncela de bosque de Cope in Mexican Spanish, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.

## Etymology

The specific name, gemmingeri, is in honor of German coleopterist Max Gemminger (1820–1887).

## Geographic range

S. gemmingeri is found in the coastal regions of the Mexican state of Veracruz and various surrounding states.

## Habitat

As its common name implies, the forest ground skink occurs primarily in forests, especially rainforests, oak forests, cloud forests, and tropical evergreen forests, at altitudes of 200–2,000 m (660–6,560 ft), although it is also sometimes found on pastureland.

## Conservation status

S. gemmingeri faced no major threats as of 2020.

## Reproduction

S. gemmingeri is ovoviparous.

## Description

Like all members of the genus Scincella, S. gemmingeri is long and cylindrical, with short limbs. Its color is dark gray, and it has a dark stripe originating at the snout and running dorsolaterally along its body. Its maximum snout-vent length (SVL) is about 45 mm (1.8 in).

