These skinks are accomplished burrowers, and often form dugouts under rocks or similar cover. Boards, tin, logs, and other structures may be used by these lizards. Increased awareness by the general public will hopefully lead to the reporting of populations in new areas. Breeding occurs in spring. The male grasps the skin of the females neck during copulation.
Females guard the eggs.
The eggs hatch in August. All of Iowas lizards are quick and rely on speed to escape when they are out and about. The skinks look like small snakes slithering through the brush as they move their bodies in a very serpentine way when they run. One must use caution when trying to capture skinks. Often one will end up with nothing but a wriggling tail as the lizard scoots off to safety.